The Dutch competition Authority has Tuesday morning raids done by KPN, Vodafone and T-Mobile, on suspicion of price-fixing. That reports the NOS. The raids were made after the statements of two anonymous whistleblowers.
The providers are suspected of agreements about prices for mobile calls and internet in the Netherlands, says broadcaster NOS. The raids are based on statements of two anonymous whistleblowers that the providers have worked on and say to be aware of the arrangements. According to them, are just a few on the height of the appointments, as the providers already once fine got.
One of the whistleblowers is a former managing director. He explains: “In the above function I have price agreements between the telecommunications company KPN, Vodafone, and T-Mobile observed. (…) There are very few people who are familiar with the details of the price fixing (…). I have with miscellaneous of them directly worked.” The other whistleblower, a member of the board that is still in function, tells us about a consultation on the prices of mobile internet for the prepaid market. “The directors have carried out consultation on the optimal price for mobile internet for prepaid. In this consultation were the potential prizes are exchanged for the mobile internet. A few months later I noticed that the prices have indeed been introduced.”
Many people suggested already the possibility of price fixing, after all three of the providers this summer, the data limits for mobile internet decreased and the prices of many, especially cheaper subscriptions went up. A year and a half ago, the NMa is still no evidence for price fixing. PVV Mp Jhim van Bemmel, that the statements of the whistle-blowers in possession, tells Tuesday night in current affairs programme Nieuwsuur more about the case. The providers could not in the short term to react against Tweakers.net. KPN confirms the invasion and says quickly with a statement.