Holland: Telco fined for unfair competition

Dutch regulator ACM announced two fines totaling EUR 8 million against KPN for unfair competition. The first fine of EUR 6 million was for violations in the monitoring service ISDN-Lijnbewaking in the period 2009-2013. The additional EUR 2 million fine follows violations in the SDF backhaul service in 2009-2012. According to the regulator, KPN in both cases put rivals at a disadvantage by making it difficult for them to deliver services to customers in a timely fashion.

The ISDN Lijnbewaking offered customers a guaranteed return to service within four hours of any disruption. While KPN offered this to its own customers, its competitors did not know the service existed, as KPN did not include it in the reference offer. Similarly with SDK backhaul, which provides improved internet and TV services using fibre infrastructure, KPN did not make a timely offer of the service to wholesale customers.

It also charged its own internal organisation less for the service than allowed by the regulator.

Full content: Telecom Paper

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.