EU takes action against broadband companies

The European Commission has launched separate investigations into two broadband companies.

Action could be taken against the eastern European firms after the EU accused them of obstructing competition on access to broadband internet and breaking anti-trust rules.

The formal investigations into the practices of Telekomunikacja Polska and Slovak Telecom were launched on Monday (April 27th).

Slovak Telecom is suspected of refusing infrastructure access and the inquiry follows an examination of its offices by the commission in January this year.

Moreover, it is thought that the operator may have squeezed margins related to the local unbundled loop in order to hinder competition.

Anti-trust authorities from the commission visited the offices of Telekomunikacja Polska last September in a bid to search for evidence.

The inquiry is also focused on the company's apparent refusal to give access to the unbundled local loop.

Furthermore, the commission "will also examine other possible types of non-price conduct related to the purchase of wholesale broadband access services that may restrict the ability of operators to effectively compete with the incumbent".

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