Netherlands: Vodafone sues KPN for anti-competitive behavior

Vodafone Group today announced that Vodafone Netherlands has commenced legal action against the incumbent telecoms operator in the Netherlands, KPN, alleging anti-competitive behaviour in the Dutch convergent communications market to the detriment of competition and consumer choice.

Vodafone Netherlands’ legal action states that KPN delayed by three years the nationwide introduction of Vodafone’s competing TV, fixed-line broadband and fixed-line telephone proposition, Vodafone Thuis, by failing repeatedly to meet its commitments to deliver the technology needed.

The former state telecoms monopoly KPN owns and operates the Netherlands’ only nationwide telephone network – using copper lines to connect households and businesses across the country – as well as the country’s largest fibre-optic network. Other operators without the benefits of this nationwide fixed-line infrastructure must rely on KPN’s network in order to compete.

The delays resulted in Vodafone Netherlands being unable to compete effectively with KPN (and cable providers) in the Dutch telecoms market until 2014.

Full content: Fierce Wireless

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