Thunderworx: CyTA squeezing us out of broadband market

THE CYPRUS Telecommunications Authority (CyTA) has come under fresh fire after new allegations it is abusing its dominant position to squeeze competitors out of the market.

Private telecom operators Thunderworx has complained to the Competition Commission over CyTA’s offer for the miVision platform. Under the attractive package, current subscribers to i-choice (ADSL or broadband) will get the first six months of miVision free.

But Thunderworx says that this will make competition in the broadband market extremely difficult, and have charged CyTA of monopolistic practices.

Competition Commissioner Giorgos Christofides told the Mail yesterday that a probe has been launched into these allegations parallel to the ongoing investigation into CyTA’s contentious deal with LTV.

That agreement could be stalled by parliament this week when the plenum votes on whether to approve CyTA’s budget. A simple majority is needed to endorse the budgets of semi-government organisations. But the general feeling is that the House will likely give CyTA the thumbs-up, as the AKEL and DIKO parties are seen as sympathetic to the deal.

Meanwhile politicians yesterday continued to squabble, with DISY deputy Lefteris Christoforou accusing CyTA of making a “backdoor deal”.

He was referring to the fact that the telecom giant apparently failed to inform the government of its negotiations with LTV, which only became public when news of the deal was leaked some two weeks ago.

Football content is at the heart of the controversy. Under the agreement, LTV will provide Cypriot league and cup games to the miVision platform. Critics say this move will scoop up virtually all potential customers out there who are interested in pay-TV.

Elaborating, Christoforou pilloried the powers that be for the high premiums Cypriots have to pay for watching the sport from home.

“We watch Greek league games for free [on CyBC], but we pay for Cypriot games in gold,” he remarked.