Slovene mobile firm attacks EU anti-trust reforms

Date: 02/06/05

Slovenian mobile operator Vega claims the EU's decentralisation policy for anti-trust enforcement means it has nowhere to turn when the national regulator will not act. It started legal action on 30 May against the Slovenian government and the incumbent operator Mobitel, which has 80% of the market, for abusive pricing.

Andrew Kelly of Vega's US-based owner Western Wireless International said Slovenian watchdogs had ignored the high prices that Mobiltel charges for connecting with its network - even though the tarrifs have dissuaded customers from switching to rival operators Vega or Vodafone franchise Simobil. He said: "The policy of decentralisation has the Commission saying 'we can't get involved here as the matter should be dealt with nationally'. The national competition authority is not dealing with it."

Mobiltel's Tomaz Menih said: "Vega is trying the court case when it continues to fail to make the business case."