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Vodafone faces German probe over suspected obstruction of 1&1
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BERLIN (Reuters) -Vodafone and its German subsidiary Vantage Towers are facing an
BERLIN (Reuters) -Vodafone and its German subsidiary Vantage Towers are facing an antitrust investigation in Germany over concerns that it may have contributed to United Internet subsidiary 1&1’s sluggish roll-out of radio masts, the regulator said on Friday.
“Powerful and dominant companies must not unfairly impede other companies. We will therefore scrutinise whether there are sound reasons for a delay in the provision of antenna locations for 1&1,” Andreas Mundt, president of the Federal Cartel Office, said in a statement.
Vodafone said in an emailed statement to Reuters that it continued to firmly reject the accusation and would cooperate closely with the authorities.
“As a neutral and independent host, we offer all our customers open access to our passive infrastructure,” a spokesperson for Vantage Towers said.
1&1 is trying to establish itself as a top telecommunications provider in Germany but has so far built only a fraction of its targeted 1,000 radio masts.
In February, it filed a complaint with the cartel office, blaming the slow progress on Vantage Towers and claiming that the company had not fulfilled its obligations as a partner in developing shared infrastructure.
(Reporting by Rachel More and Hakan Ersen, Editing by Friederike Heine)
Antitrust refers to laws and regulations that promote competition and prevent monopolies in the market. These laws aim to protect consumers from unfair business practices and ensure a fair marketplace.
A telecommunications provider is a company that offers services related to communication over distances, including phone, internet, and television services. They facilitate the transmission of information through various technologies.
A radio mast is a tall structure that supports antennas for transmitting and receiving radio signals. It is essential for communication networks, including mobile phone and broadcasting services.
A subsidiary is a company that is completely or partly owned and controlled by another company, known as the parent company. Subsidiaries operate independently but are subject to the parent company's influence.
Infrastructure sharing refers to the practice where multiple telecommunications providers share physical network components, such as towers and cables, to reduce costs and improve service coverage.
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