Slovak Telekom has issued a statement saying it “emphatically disagrees” with the preliminary findings of an EC statement of objections (SO) that alleges the telco abused its dominant position in the country’s broadband market.
In its view, the Slovak broadband market is fully developed, with one of the lowest broadband prices in OECD countries and with those prices continuing to fall.
Furthermore, it carries out its business in full compliance with the EU’s competition rules and us ready to prove that these rules have not been infringed.
Slovak Telekom also says that local courts have repeatedly ruled in its favour in cases of alleged infringements of competition and that its conditions of access are fair and non discriminatory.
In addition, it says that alternative providers account for nearly 60% of the market in Slovakia and tend to rely on their own networks, using a wide variety of technologies, including fibre, cable and mobile.
On May 8 the EC issued a SO in which it said: “At this stage, the Commission takes the view that Slovak Telekom may have refused to supply unbundled access to its local loops and wholesale services to competitors, and may have imposed a margin squeeze on alternative operators by charging unfair wholesale prices, in breach of EU antitrust rules. Deutsche Telekom may be liable for the conduct of its subsidiary. The companies now have three months to reply to the SO.”
