Telecom Italia to fight Tiscali’s EUR285m claim for damages

Italian broadband provider Tiscali is seeking EUR285 million (USD310 million) in damages from former incumbent operator Telecom Italia (TI) due to alleged abuse of its dominant position. The claim has been revealed by TI in a release on its investor relations website, with the company saying it intends to challenge Tiscali in court. According to Telecompaper, Tiscali has requested the compensation payment for what it termed as ‘abusive conduct by Telecom Italia in the years 2009-2014 through acts of technical boycott and offers for business clients… that could not be replicated by competitors’. In 2013 TI was fined EUR104 million by Italy’s competition watchdog for abuse of its dominant position.