Spain: Vodafone complaint accuses Telefonica of discrimination and retaliation prices

Mobile phone company Vodafone has denounced its rival Telefónica before the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) of Spain over two offers related to the television broadcasts of football matches, requesting the regulator to halt these actions immediately.

According to Vodafone, practices engaged by Telefónica (related to promotions in its mobile division Movistar’s Fusion+ package) constitute “an obvious case of abusive discrimination in terms of retaliatory prices” against operators who have not purchased Telefónica’s wholesale soccer content.

Telefónica is accused of using its dominant position in the audiovisual market to compete in a new market for fiber optic services. Telefónica would use its position to offer free access to football broadcasts until 2019 for customers who purchase the Fusion+ package, which includes internet services, to steal away Vodafone customers.

In addition, Vodafone has said that its clients have received private offers to switch to Fusión+ at half price. The operator points out that it is “a case of abusive discrimination in terms of retaliatory prices against operators.”

Full Content: La Vanguardia