The domestic No.3 mobile operator Cesky Mobil has filed a lawsuit against Eurotel (100%-owned by Cesky Telecom) and T-Mobile CR (39%-owned by České radiokomunikace), claiming CZK 1.6bn in compensation for damage linked to higher interconnection fees they charged for calls to CM's network compared to fees for calls to their own networks in 2000-01. Cesky Mobil is claiming CZK 1bn from Eurotel and CZK 615m from T-Mobile CR. CM said this practice had caused it serious economic damage as the competitors prevented CM from competing under equal conditions. The lawsuit follows a decision by the Anti-Monopoly Office (AMO) in 2002 when Eurotel and T-Mobile were fined CZK 48m and CZK 15m respectively for the interconnection price differences. The companies appealed, but no final decision has yet been reached.
Eurotel and T-Mobile CR are likely to base their defense on higher costs related to the interconnection to CM network.
Jan Hajek