The French Competition Authority imposes an unprecedented € 80 M fine to the telecommunications incumbent for abuse of a dominant position on the broadband internet market (France Télécom)

In November 1999, Neuf Télécom, a telecommunications operator, filed a complaint with the French Competition Council (hereinafter “the Council”) against France Télécom, the French historic telephone and Internet provider, on the grounds that the latter was conducting anti-competitive practices on the market of ADSL broadband Internet provision. Neuf Télécom claimed that France Télécom was illegally restricting access to the market. In February 2000, the Council ordered France Télécom to propose to alternative operators offers giving them access to the permanent virtual circuit for the provision of Internet access via ADSL [French Competition Council, Decision n° 00-MC-01, of 18 february 2000 (“relative à une demande de mesures conservatoires présentée par la société 9 Télécom Réseau”).