Czech Telecom's free minutes cost it 6.9 million euro fine

0 Comments | AFP, November, 2005

PRAGUE (AFP) — The Czech competition office (UOHS) announced a 205 million koruna (6.9 million euros) fine for Czech Telecom, now controlled by Spain's Telefonica, for abusing its dominant market position.

The fine stems for the biggest Czech telecom company's offer from 2002 of free phone call minutes to fixed line customers, a move that deterred them from using the services of alternative phone companies, the office said.

Czech Telecom stopped offering free phone minutes earlier this year, it added.

Telefonica acquired a 51.1 percent stake in Czech Telecom for 82.6 billion koruna (2.74 billion euros) in June and later bought a further 18 percent from small shareholders.

© 2005 AFP