Page 124 - SAMENA Trends - May-June 2022

REGULATORY & POLICY UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

EFTA Court Upholds Fine on Telenor Norge for Anticompetitive Practices

Telenor Norge has confirmed that a fine back in Q2 2020 and as such suggested network had been priced higher than the
EUR112 million (USD118 million) fine the court ruling would ‘not have further retail prices it charged its own residential
handed to it back in June 2020 by the EFTA accounting effects. In June 2020 the ESA users for accessing mobile broadband
Surveillance Authority (ESA) has been fined Telenor Norge after concluding the services on large-screen devices, such as
upheld. In a press release regarding the latter had ‘abused its market dominance tablets and laptops. Arguing that Telenor’s
matter Telenor Norge confirmed that the by a pricing strategy that resulted in rivals margin squeeze prevented rival providers
EFTA Court had ruled against it following making a loss when selling residential competing viably between 2008 and end-
an appeal, in which it appealed for the mobile broadband services on tablets and 2012, the ESA argued this amounted to
original decision to be revoked. Telenor laptops’. At the time, the ESA said that an abuse of the telco’s dominant position
Norge now notes that with the judgment following an in-depth investigation it had on the wholesale market, in breach of the
upholding the ESA’s original decision, the determined that during a ‘critical growth European Economic Area (EEA) antitrust
matter cannot be reviewed further. The phase in mobile data in Norway’ Telenor rules.
operator also confirmed that it had paid the Norge’s wholesale prices for access to its

NCC Commissions Study on Colocation and Infrastructure Sharing Market

The Nigerian Communications Commission
(NCC) says it has commenced the process
of conducting a study to assess the current
level of competition in the colocation and
infrastructure sharing (CIS) segment of
the telecoms sector, a market in which 78
licensees currently operate. The aim of the
study is to determine the level of competition
in the CIS segment and formulate
strategies to enhance opportunities in the
market, as well as ensure and promote
increased competition. The NCC has
hired PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to
conduct the study, which is expected to be
concluded by July.

124 MAY-JUNE 2022