Vodafone 2015 Annual Report Download - page 172

30. Contingent liabilities (continued)
Extension of licences in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata: VIL and others v Union of India
We sought an extension of our existing licences in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. That extension was denied by the DoT by order dated 21 March
2013. We appealed that decision to the TDSAT and by its order dated 31 January 2014, the TDSAT denied the extension. In the meantime, in order
to maintain continuity of services, VIL sought and obtained spectrum in these cities. The appeal to the Supreme Court was rejected on 14 May 2015.
Other cases in the Group
Italy
British Telecom (Italy) v Vodafone Italy
The Italian Competition Authority concluded an investigation in 2007 when Vodafone Italy gave certain undertakings in relation to allegations that
it had abused its dominant position in the wholesale market for mobile termination. In 2010, British Telecom (Italy) brought a civil damages claim
against Vodafone Italy on the basis of the Competition Authority’s investigation and Vodafone Italy’s undertakings. British Telecom (Italy) seeks
damages in the amount of €280 million for abuse of dominant position by Vodafone Italy in the wholesale xed to mobile termination market for
the period from 1999 to 2007. A court appointed expert delivered an opinion to the Court that the range of damages in the case should be in the
region of €10 million to €25 million which was reduced in a further supplemental report published in September 2014 to a range of €8 million
to €11 million. The expert’s report will be considered by the Court before it passes judgement on the case.
FASTWEB v Vodafone Italy
The Italian Competition Authority concluded an investigation in 2007 when Vodafone Italy gave certain undertakings in relation to allegations
it had abused its dominant position in the wholesale market for mobile termination. In 2010, FASTWEB brought a civil damages claim against
Vodafone Italy on the basis of the Competition Authority’s investigation and Vodafone Italy’s undertakings. FASTWEB sought damages in the amount
of €360 million for abuse of dominant position by Vodafone Italy in the wholesale xed to mobile termination market. A court appointed expert
delivered an opinion to the Court that the range of damages in the case should be in the region of €0.5 million to €2.3 million. On 15 October 2014,
the Court decided to reject FASTWEB’s damages claim in its entirety.
Greece
Papistas Holdings SA, Mobile Trade Stores (formerly Papistas SA) and Athanasios and Loukia Papistas v Vodafone Greece, Vodafone Group Plc
and certain Directors and Ofcers of Vodafone
In December 2013, Mr and Mrs Papistas, and companies owned or controlled by them, brought three claims in the Greek court in Athens against
Vodafone Greece, Vodafone Group Plc and certain Directors and ofcers of Vodafone Greece and Vodafone Group Plc for purported damage caused
by the alleged abuse of dominance and wrongful termination of a franchise arrangement with a Papistas company. Approximately €1.0 billion of the
claim is directed exclusively at one former and one current Director of Vodafone Greece. The balance of the claim (approximately €285.5 million)
is sought from Vodafone Greece and Vodafone Group Plc on a joint and several basis. The cases are scheduled to come to trial in November 2015
and April 2016.
Tanzania
Cats-Net Limited v Vodacom Tanzania Limited
In 2012, Cats-Net Limited brought a claim for US$500 million (US$200 million compensatory and US$300 million punitive) in damages against
Vodacom Tanzania Limited in the Tanzanian High Court. Cats-Net Limited is also seeking an order cancelling Vodacom Tanzania’s mobile
telecommunications licence. The claim is based on the actions of the Tanzanian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (‘TTRA’) who, following
complaints by Vodacom Tanzania of interference caused by transmissions of Cats-Net Limited, allegedly shut down the operations of Cats-Net
Limited after conducting its own investigation. Cats-Net Limited alleges collusion between the TTRA and Vodacom Tanzania. Vodacom Tanzania
led an application to strike out the claim. That application has been argued and the parties await a decision of the Court.
Vodafone Group Plc
Annual Report 2015
170
Notes to the consolidated nancial statements (continued)