Swedish Competition Authority wants to prohibit Hässleholm from restricting broadband competition

The Swedish Competition Authority is taking Hässleholm municipality to court to obtain an injunction against the municipality's anti-competitive conduct in the broadband market.

- "We are of course pleased that the Swedish Competition Authority, after having investigated the matter for almost two years, has taken this sensible decision. It is important that the municipality of Hässleholm's actions are tested in court, as they put a spanner in the works for the broadband expansion that is so important for Sweden," says Kajsa Frisell, business policy expert at IT&Telekomföretagen.

Read the press release from the Competition Authority here.

In November 2015, IT&Telekomföretagen reported Hässleholm Municipality to the Swedish Competition Authority, as Hässleholm Municipality's actions are of fundamental importance and risk, if not stopped, spreading to other municipalities. By refusing land agreements and excavation permits for laying fiber in the municipality because the municipality wants to protect its own fiber investment, Hässleholm municipality completely excludes competition from other players.