Spain’s National Court has ratified a fine of €18.7 million imposed by the regulator CNMC on tower company Cellnex.
According to El Pais, it dates back to May 2019, when CNMC fined Abertis Telecom Terrestre — Cellnex’s name before it went public – for abuse of its dominant position. The regulator alleged that the company demanded, “without objective justification, large penalties from its clients” such as Antena 3, Telecinco, Net TV, Veo TV and Sogecable in the event of early termination of the contracts they had signed in 2006.
It also accused Cellnex of establishing an excessive duration of the contracts with Veo TV in 2006 and with Sogecable, Telecinco and Net TV in 2008, “with the effect of preventing the possible commercial action of new competitors and their entry into the market”.
Cellnex is now expected to appeal the decision, with the case returning to the Supreme Court.
Significantly, Cellnex’s activities have enormously in the last few years and TV signal distribution represents only 9% of its turnover.
Tower management, on the other hand, accounts for 89% and the company has a presence in a dozen countries.
