EU Ombudsman Will Investigate O2 Charges In Roaming Case
BRUSSELS (Dow Jones)-The European Union's ombudsman Monday opened an inquiry into Telefonica's UK mobile phone company O2's complaint about regulators' investigation of its roaming services.
The phone company argues that the regulators failed to allow them with proper rights of defense, the ombudsman said in a statement. P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, the ombundsman, demanded that the regulators in the European Commission respond by Dec. 31, 2006.
If the ombudsman rejects the commission's defense, than he can try to negotiate a settlement. His rulings are non-binding so he can't fine the commission or force it to change its decision.
In 2001 the commission started proceedings against U.K. and German mobile phone operators. It concluded in 2004 that O2 was abusing its dominant position by charging excessive fees for its roaming services.
-By William Echikson,Dow Jones Newswires;32-2-741-1480; william.echikson@dowjones.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires "
Posted to the site on 23rd October 2006
