TPSA to appeal zl.350 million unfair competition penalty

The Telecommunications Regulatory Office (URT) has imposed a zl.350 million fine on dominant operator Telekomunikacja Polska (TPSA) as a punishment for unfair competition and improper financial reporting. The bulk of the fine, zl.300 million, is in response to TPSA's failure to respond to a direct request by the former Telecommunications Ministry to settle inter-connection fees with independent fixed-line operator NOM. The additional zl.50 million fine is for providing the URT with improper data on revenue from leasing connection lines. TPSA has said it will appeal against the fine, the latest in a series of penalties relating to accusations that it is using its dominance to prevent new market entrants from gaining customers The zl.350 million fine is almost double TPSA's zl.183 million net profit for last year. The URT decision prompted heavy selling of TPSA shares, which closed the day's trading over 5% down. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p. 6; Parkiet, p. 1; Reuters) M.T.