Greek Regulator Fines Vodafone Greece EUR76 Million For Wiretaps

ATHENS -(Dow Jones)- The Greek telecommunications regulator has fined Vodafone Greece, a subsidiary of UK mobile operator Vodafone Group, for its role in a wiretapping scandal earlier this year.

The fine was imposed by the Authority for Communications Security and Secrecy (ADAE), according to a statement. The body met earlier Thursday to consider penalties against the company.

Greek press reports earlier this week suggested that Vodafone Greece could face more than EUR170 million in fines.

Earlier this year, the Greek government disclosed the existence of a secret wiretapping operation which had tracked the cellphone calls of more than 100 prominent politicians, journalists and businessmen, including that of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis.

The highly sophisticated operation used the Vodafone network to tap into the cellphone calls. No suspects have been identified or arrested in connection with the scandal.

-By Alkman Granitsas, Dow Jones Newswires; +30 210 331 2881; alkman.granitsas@dowjones.com

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Posted to the site on 14th December 2006