OTE withdraws bundles

Greek full-service telecoms operator OTE was forced to withdraw six fixed line/mobile/broadband discounted bundled packages under orders from the National Telecommunications & Post Commission (EETT), after alternative telcos including Hellas Online, ForthNet and Wind Hellas complained of unfair competition.

The watchdog said it made the ruling because OTE introduced the new packages without prior regulatory consent required of the incumbent due to its dominant status in the infrastructure market. It also said it would fine the former monopoly EUR100,000 per day if it failed to comply.

OTE, part-owned by Germany’s Deutsche Telekom, criticized the regulator’s move as limiting consumers’ access to low-priced services in an acute economic downturn, TeleGeography CommsUpdate reported.