Report: SIC Fines Comcel, Movistar for Price Fixing

Colombia's industry and commerce regulator SIC has fined mobile operators Comcel and Movistar 1.72bn pesos (US$871,000) and 572mn pesos respectively for failing to stop making price fixing agreements, local press reported.

In 2001, a SIC investigation revealed that Comcel, of Mexico's América Móvil, and Movistar, of Spain's Telefónica, had enacted price fixing agreements. SIC started the investigation in 1999 and in 2001 the operators agreed to cease the practice.

The country's corporate regulator then took up the investigation in 2003 after receiving complaints from Colombia's public services association Andesco and long distance operator Orbitel.

The regulator found that Comcel and Movistar lowered interconnection rates for mobile to fixed line calls while increasing rates for fixed to mobile.

Posted to the site on 9th August 2007