This article is more than 1 year old

Freeserve and Oftel both claim victory in key competition dispute

Spin City

The Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT) - the UK's highest specialist competition law court - today issued a ruling on a closely watched dispute between Freeserve and telecoms regulator Oftel.

Both sides are claiming victory.

The long-awaited ruling follows an appeal by Freeserve to CAT last year after Oftel dismissed a complaint by Freeserve about BT's allegedly anti-competitive behaviour in its broadband marketing.

Freeserve alleges that BT Openworld was given advance notice of a 40 per cent price reduction in wholesale broadband access early last year.

Freeserve said this enabled BT Openworld to put together marketing campaigns - and importantly price offers - in advance of the rest of the market, which Freeserve also believes were cross-subsidised and predatory.

However, this complaint was dismissed by Oftel, hence the appeal to CAT.

CAT considered four elements in Freeserve's complaint and Oftel's subsequent ruling:

  • Allegations of cross marketing between BT and BT Openworld
  • BT Openworld having advance notification of BT Wholesale price reductions
  • Predatory pricing by BT in the broadband sector
  • BT using its telephone census to the benefit of BT Openworld

On all but the predatory pricing allegation, CAT upheld Oftel's decision. The tribunal ruled that Oftel failed to properly explain its decision on predatory pricing. (Note: CAT didn't say that Oftel's decision was wrong, still less make any comment on BT's behaviour).



CAT has ordered Oftel to re-investigate Freeserve's allegation of predatory pricing within three months.

So 3-1 to Oftel then?

It's wrong to look at it that way, said a Freeserve spokeswoman, who argues that predatory pricing was the most important point of contention.

Freeserve has succeeded in getting this issue re-examined, she says, and the CAT's decision shows Oftel's original review was insufficiently thorough. Also Freeserve was awarded costs for part of the case, and BT (which supported Oftel) wasn't.

There's more point scoring in the respective releases from Oftel/a> and Freeserve. Reading both you'd be forgiven for thinking they were about separate rulings. Then you're left wondering how Oftel and Freeserve will co-operate productively in re-examining the issue.

CAT's ruling (PDF) can be found here. ®

Related Stories

Court date set for 'landmark' Freeserve case against Oftel
Competition Watchdog mulls Freeserve's BT complaint
Freeserve's legal broadband challenge clears hurdle
Freeserve in legal fight against Oftel

More about

More about

More about

TIP US OFF

Send us news


Other stories you might like