SAN JOSE, Costa Rica, Sep 1 (Reuters/EP) -
Spain's Telefonica said Wednesday it will defend the rates it plans to charge in Costa Rica for interconnection services, despite a complaint from Mexican rival América Móvil, which it says are artificially low.
América Móvil, controlled by tycoon Carlos Slim, denounced a few weeks ago that a tariff agreement between Telefónica and the state-owned Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) represents an improper commercial practice.
ICE controlled the country's cell phone market, but Costa Rica was forced to open up the telecommunications sector as part of CAFTA, a free trade agreement between Central America and the United States.
"The agreement (...) represents a questionable agreement between them with respect to the fixing of a 'floor' at the purchase or sale price at which telecommunications services are offered or demanded to end users," says the complaint filed by Claro, a brand through which América Móvil offers services in several Latin American countries.
At the beginning of the year, América Móvil and Telefónica obtained licenses to operate in the Central American country.
"The prices negotiated by both parties for the interconnection of Telefónica's network with ICE's mobile and fixed telephone network are adjusted to the reality of the market," the Spanish company said on Wednesday.
FG_AUTHORS: PortalTIC.es / Companies
