The Spanish National Competition Commission (CNC) has imposed a €22.6 million fine on Abertis Telecom for abusing its dominant position in the terrestrial transmitter market.
Abertis Telecom is said to have abused its dominant position through anticompetitive practices in the market. The Commission found that the operator has harmed the broadcasters Sogecable (Canal+), Telecinco, Antena 3, Net TV and Veo TV.
According to the CNC, Abertis has charged hefty penalties to its customers in the event of early termination of contracts signed in 2006.
It has also entered into excessively long contracts with Veo TV in 2006 with Sogecable, Telecinco, Net TV and in 2008 with the purpose to preventing clients from switching over to new entrants in the transmitter market.
It also accused Abertis of proposing deep discounts to its clients which were not justified when it was negotiating contracts in 2006 that its rivals could not compete with.
Abertis is the market leader in the distribution of digital and analogue TV signals in Spain.
The CNC opened a case against Abertis for abuse of its dominant position after a complaint was filed by the network operator Axion and commercial broadcasters Sogecable and Telecinco.
Spanish broadcasters have long accused Abertis of charging them high carriage fees, claiming the market needs to open up to other operators.
