The Geneva telecommunications company Naxoo will have to pay a CHF 3m fine for market abuse of a dominate position. The company is 51% owned by the canton.
The fine relates to activities 20 years ago and Naxoo is now no longer anywhere near as powerful.
Back on 2013 a private operator wanted to run a cable TV service using Naxoo’s coaxial cables in apartment buildings – they refused. A subsequent inquiry by the Competition Commission ruled the contracts Naxoo had with building owners were unjustly strict – and issued a fine of CHF 3.6m.
For the last two decades it’s been fought in the courts. But now the end of the legal road has been reached – and the Federal Court says a fine of CHF 3.1m has to be paid.
But the owner of the private company will only get CHF 19,000 – he says the whole battle has cost him a million. He’s now looking at civil action.
His original idea is now moot – as TV over IP is now dominant.
Geneva wanted to sell its stake years ago – but was blocked by a popular vote.
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