The Togo Electronic Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARCEP) imposed a fine of one billion CFA francs (nearly $ 2 million) against Togo Cellulaire, an entity of the Togocom group, and leader of mobile telephony in the market. This, at the end of a sanction procedure for violation of the principle of non-differentiation of tariffs for “on-net” (intra-network) and “off-net” (inter-network) communications.
“Togo Cellulaire is also ordered to cease this anti-competitive practice within twenty-four (24) hours, subject to the sum of 50 million CFA francs per day of delay. The decision has been notified to the company since February 19, 2021, and takes effect from that same date, ”adds ARCEP in a press release issued on Monday February 22. “The refusal of Togo Cellulaire to comply for several months, seriously undermines not only the efforts to create conditions for healthy and fair competition in the market but also the rights of consumers”, adds the document.
This sanction, as recalled by the regulator, follows the formal notices sent on November 9, 2020 to Togo Cellulaire and Moov Africa Togo – the two players who share the mobile telephony market -, for the purposes of immediate termination of the tariff differentiation prohibited in their specifications. “While its competitor Moov Africa Togo complied with the injunction by making all its tariff offers“ all networks ”within the time limit, Togo Cellulaire limited itself to aligning its basic tariffs, while continuing price differentiation through its “package” offers, despite multiple reminders from ARCEP, ”he laments in his press release.
In addition to this file, the regulator had also summoned the operator to resolve the difficulties related to its mobile money transfer service. This has led Togocom, privatized since November 2019, to update its platform.
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