Vodafone sues Telecom Italia, seeks €1bn damages
Vodafone has filed a lawsuit against Italy's main operator, Telecom Italia, and is seeking more than €1bn in damages.
Vodafone Group is seeking damages from Telecom Italia, in a civil action claim that says Telecom Italia committed a series of actions between 2008 and 2013 with the intention and effect of impeding growth in competition in Italy’s fixed-line market.
In May Italy's Antitrust Authority fined Telecom Italia €100m for hindering competition in fixed-line voice and broadband by preventing rivals from accessing its wholesale network.
Telecom Italia has said it would appeal against the fine which, according to Reuters, stemmed from the regulator's investigation into complaints by Italian mobile operator Wind and broadband rival Fastweb.
According to Vodafone, the new civil action outlines how "Telecom Italia's abusive actions have harmed competition and innovation, stifled choice and undermined the wider Italian consumer interest".
Vodafone also claims Telecom Italia's activities caused it to lose existing and potential customers, restricting Vodafone Italy's ability to grow its fixed line business and forcing it pay artificially high costs in order to compete.
The complaint was filed in the Court of Milan.