Commission for Protection of Competition processing purchase of IKOM – SBB files intent for acquisition

The president of the Commission for Protection of Competition, Miloje Obradovic, says that Srpske Kablovske Mreze (SBB) has filed the intent for acquiring Interaktivne Kablovske Objedinjene Mreze (IKOM) and that the submitted documentation is currently being amended so that the case could be processed.

He said that the case would be processed through a summary procedure, lasting for 40 days, or an investigation procedure in the official capacity, depending on the determined share in the market.

– This procedure honors the regulations of the European Union, but also those of the Commission for Protection of Competition of Serbia. We have asked for the documentation about the state of the telecommunications service market, primarily in Belgrade, to be amended – Obradovic emphasized and added that the Commission would process the case efficiently, just like all the other previous cases.

– Our task is to provide customers with the possibility of choice in both the price and the provider of the service, that is, to provide customers with as many options for quality products as low prices as possible – Obradovic said.

In mid-September, it was reported that SBB had bought IKOM, though the price wasn't specified. As reported, the purchase had made SBB one of the largest telecommunications operators in Southeast Europe.

On September 13, The Commission for Protection of Competition received a request for determining whether there was a possibility of abuse of the dominant market position arising from the acquisition.

SBB is the leading digital and analog cable TV, broadband internet and landline phone service operator in Serbia, and IKOM has operated in Serbia for more than 10 years.

Komisija za zaštitu konkurencije Srbije

SBB d.o.o. Beograd

IKOM Beograd

Miloje Obradović

Srpske Kablovske Mreze

SBB

Interaktivne Kablovske Objedinjene Mreze

IKOM

telecommunications service market

cable operators in Serbia

abuse of dominant market position

digital television

analog television