Telefonica, ETB Accuse Comcel of Abusing LD Prefix

Colombian fixed line operators Telefónica-Telecom and ETB have accused mobile operator Comcel of anti-competitive practices, local paper Portafolio reported.

In a letter sent to the country's telecom regulator CRT, Telefónica-Telecom, owned by Spain's Telefónica, maintains that Comcel, of América Móvil, is asking clients to sign up to a long distance service that uses the 002 prefix. CRT has not yet approved regulations for use of the prefix, the report said.

Telefónica-Telecom said "this practice is an abuse of the operator's dominant market position," according to the report.

Telefónica claims Comcel's actions are creating confusion among users and giving Comcel an unfair market advantage.

Municipal telco ETB's vice president Carlos Malagón seconded Telefónica's complaints, saying Comcel could push other operators out of the long distance market, the report said.

CRT clarified this week that no operator can offer unregulated services and the 002 prefix for long distance services will not be available for use until March 2008, once CRT has defined the regulations.

Telefónica, however, claimed that Comcel has already invited clients through an SMS message to start making international calls using the 002 prefix and to sign up for the service, according to the report.

Posted to the site on 26th November 2007