Germany: Vodafone gets retrial in Deutsche Telekom case

Vodafone’s Kabel Deutschland unit won a ruling at Germany’s top court granting it a retrial in a case seeking 350 million euros from Deutsche Telekom AG over claims the country’s former phone monopoly is overcharging for the use of ducts that carry its cables.

The Federal Court of Justice, Germany’s highest civil tribunal, on Tuesday backed Kabel Deutschland’s attack on two lower court rulings that had dismissed the suit. The case will now be reheard by a panel of judges in Frankfurt. Vodafone is also seeking a ruling to cut its annual fees of 100 million euros by up to two-thirds. The court disclosed the reasons for its ruling early Wednesday morning in a statement on its website.

“With its high fees for the use of cable ducts, Deutsche Telekom abuses its dominant market position,” Vodafone said in an e-mailed statement. “We welcome that the court followed our legal arguments.”

Full Content: Bloomberg

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