The Competition Commission, in its meeting on 10.05.2024, considered the case of opening the in-depth investigation procedure in the market of the provision and access of internet service to administration undertakings and internet undertakings in residential housing that these undertakings exercise their activity.
The Competition Commission in support of Article 9 and Article 42 of Law no. 9121, dated 28.7.2003 “On competition protection”, by decision no. 1025, dated 18.10.2023 “On the opening of the preliminary investigation procedure against the administration undertakings in residential housing of the district of Tirana in the Internet service access market”, decided on the opening of the preliminary investigation procedure against the administration undertakings in the residences of the district of Tirana in the internet service access market, for the time period from 1 January 2020 to 13 October 2023.
Pursuant to this decision, based on Article 33 of Law no. 9121/2003, data and information were requested from administration undertakings and from undertakings providing internet access service.
At the end of the analysis of the information and data provided, it turned out that:
- there are problems regarding the restriction of access by other administration undertakings to residential housing in the district of Tirana;
- some of the administration undertakings have common shareholders with Internet undertakings, and exercise their activity in the same residential residence, thus bringing about a vertical integration, doubts arise that in the market of Internet service provision and access this is a violation of Article 4 of Law no. 9121/2003;
- in terms of Article 9 of Law no. 9121, dated 28.07.2003 “On competition protection”, the conduct of administration undertakings may constitute an abuse of the dominant position by refusing access to other undertakings that offer this service; implementing unequal conditions for the same commercial actions with the parties and creating favorable conditions for the establishment of the dominant position of Internet undertakings within the residence they administer;
Competition Commission by decision no. 1078, dated 10.05.2024, decided to open the in-depth investigation procedure in the market of internet service provision and access to administration undertakings and internet undertakings in residential housing that these undertakings operate. The in-depth investigation covers the time period from 1 January 2020 to 10 May 2024.
In addition, please consult the official website of the Competition Authority at http://caa.gov.al.