Cicra investigating islands’ telco sector
THE CHANNEL Islands competition watchdog has begun an inquiry into the telecoms sector – but is remaining tight-lipped on the details.
Cicra said that there were ‘reasonable’ grounds or cause to suspect that ‘certain undertakings active in the provision of telecommunications services’ in Guernsey and Jersey had contravened competition law.
In a ‘case opening statement’ covering each island, the watchdog said this related to the potential abuse of a dominant market position for the provision of certain telecoms services and/or entering into arrangements which had the object or effect of preventing competition.
The information was set out in ‘case opening statements’ – one relating to Guernsey and the other to Jersey – published by the watchdog.
In a further statement to the Guernsey Press, Cicra said: ‘The case was opened based on information that came to our attention recently.
‘It should be emphasised that at this stage no parties have been found to contravene the competition law and we are gathering information to understand the situation better in order to come to a view whether that is the case or not.’
The watchdog also said it could not say more about the investigation as it was a legal matter.
JT said it had no comment to add at this stage. A Sure spokesperson said: ‘As this is an ongoing, confidential investigation we cannot comment at this time.’ Airtel-Vodafone said it had no comment at this point.
