EPAM’ Competition Law practice has successfully defended the interests of T2 Mobile (Tele2) – a nation-wide mobile operator in Russia – in a precedent-setting case against the Moscow Metro regarding unfair tariffs for placing telecommunications equipment in the metro.

The Firm’s lawyers worked together with the Tele2 legal team to develop a defence which convinced the regulator of the Metro’s dominant position as a sole owner of unique infrastructure, and of the unfounded and discriminatory nature of the one-off payment applied to Tele2 for placing communications equipment at each station.

As a result of the Firm’s efforts, the Moscow Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service issued a warning requesting that the Moscow Metro rescind the discriminatory tariffs for Tele2 and offer the latter the same conditions for placing telecommunications equipment as those enjoyed by other telecom operators. This will have a positive effect on competition in the sector. The warning is an important step in allowing a fourth telecom provider to become fully operational in the metro and will ensure that Tele2 customers can make the most of its telecommunication services.

Partner Anna Numerova, Counsel Denis Gavrilov, and Associate Alexander Balyberdin all worked on the project.