More precisely, interference from Ukrainian communications companies is rendering Vodafone unable to use part of the radio spectrum bought in 2012 in more than 20 counties as promised in the conditions of contract at the time of the auction.
Vodafone is working with Tanasescu si Gavrila law firm in this case – one of the biggest in its industry. Vodafone officials would not comment on the information. The company proposes to have the damages it seeks offset with the fees it owes ANCOM as they become due, ZF has found, which means the debt should be settled in a couple of years. Vodafone paid EUR230 million for the radio spectrum to the Romanian government.
To substantiate its claims, Vodafone submitted measurements taken by experts showing that the operation of more than 1,000 mobile phone towers in over 20 counties with a population of millions of people had been affected since April 2014. The customers did not experience these problems in any way because the operator ‘leased’ radio spectrum from RCS&RDS and Telekom and invested additional resources to compensate for the lack of spectrum quality.
“Vodafone Romania invested additional resources to compensate for the lack of the spectrum quality. Thus, we consider that Vodafone is entitled to receive fair and equal treatment from the Romanian authorities in order to properly use the acquired spectrum, according to its purpose,” reads a message sent to the company employees by Vodafone Romania chief executive officer Ravinder Takkar on Thursday, which ZF got.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)