The Competition Council appealed the decision with the High Court of Justice after it received the court’s motivation to its ruling, antitrust watchdog president Bogdan Chiritoiu told MEDIAFAX Friday.
On May 19, the Bucharest Court of Appeals suspended the execution of a decision by the Competition Council, whereby mobile operators Orange Romania and Vodafone Romania, were to pay fines in the combined amount of EUR63 million.
Regarding Orange Romania, Chiritoiu said the antitrust watchdog has not yet received the court’s motivation.
In February, the Competition Council fined Orange Romania and Vodafone Romania EUR63 million for abuse of dominant position. Orange Romania was fined over EUR34 million and Vodafone over EUR28 million, which represents about 3% of the two operators’ 2010 turnover, Chiritoiu told a news conference at the time.
The two companies challenged the antitrust watchdog’s decision with the Bucharest Court of Appeals.
The Council began an investigation in 2006, following a complaint filed by Netmaster Communications SRL. Orange, Vodafone and Romtelecom were accused of alleged abuse of dominant position on the telephony market.
Netmaster Communications said the three operators blocked a part of the international calls made by its clients. Orange and Vodafone charged interconnection prices ranging $0.15-0.18/minute, compared to a $0.10/minute maximum level set by the authority, said Chiritoiu.
Netmaster Communications posted 8.98 million lei turnover in 2007 and its gross profit was RON27,042, according to the last data sent to the Trade Registry. The company no longer exists – it was bought by New Com Telecomunicatii, which transferred its clients to RCS&RDS and Romtelecom after facing financial problems.
(EUR1=RON4.2233)