Watchdog fines TPSA zl. 1 mln for monopolistic practices

The Competition and Consumer Protection Office (UOKiK) fined Telekomunikacja Polska S.A. (TPSA) zl. 1 million and ordered it to stop monopolistic practices aimed at eliminating competition from telecommunications companies from the Dutch Antilles. Antillephone which offers entertainment services such as party lines and horoscopes and Antelecom both sued TPSA for blocking automatic international calls to the Antilles four years ago. TPSA says it took action because it was overwhelmed with claims for telephone bill refunds. Children and employees using the phones at work comprised the vast majority of international calls to the Antilles. Antillephone accused TPSA of forcing their clients to use more expensive operator assisted international calls. In addition, UOKiK says at the time the service was blocked, the first entertainment telecom company was created in Poland, which shared profits with TPSA. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 18)