Romania's Anti-trust Body Launches Cartel Probe of Mobile Services Market

The first investigation followed a complaint that France's Telecom mobile unit in Romania, Orange Romania, has agreed with its distributors not to sell to certain companies, the Competition Council said in a statement.

The second investigation was launched at the Council’s and will probe Orange Romania, Vodafone Romania and Cosmote Romania for possible cartel agreements with their distributors, the regulator said.

"This kind of agreements represents deviation from the principles of free competition and result in higher prices and limited choice of services for consumers," the head of the Competition Council, Bogdan Chiritoiu, said.

He added that if these practices are confirmed, the regulator can impose fines equal to up to 10% of the respective company's turnover.

In 2006, the regulator launched a probe into allegations that Orange Romania and Vodafone Romania and fixed-line operator RomTelecom were abusing their dominant position. The regulator said in Friday’s statement it is analysing the findings of that investigation.