e&’s Moroccan subsidiary set to pay AED 2.3 bn for “anticompetitive practices”

e&’s Moroccan subsidiary could pay some AED 2.3 bn in antitrust case: The Court of Appeals of Casablanca rejected an appeal from e& subsidiary Maroc Telecom in an antitrust case, according to a statement (pdf). The decision upholds an order by the Commercial Court of Rabat for the company to pay MAD 6.3 bn (AED 2.3 bn) to competitor Inwi over “alleged anti-competitive practices.” e& holds majority stakes in Maroc Telecom at 53% shares, while the Moroccan government holds a 22% stake.

Background: The case was originally brought forward by Inwi in 2021 over Maroc Telecom abusing its position in the market, Reuters reported in January, without elaborating. The company was previously fined MAD 3.3 bn in 2020 by Moroccan telecommunications regulator ANRT for limiting competitors' access to their network infrastructure.

What’s next? e& said it will “exhaust all legal options to challenge the impact of the court decision.”