In the Madrid neighborhood of El Cañaveral, a controversy broke out when Vodafone discovered that Madfibra, a local operator, was using its fiber optic infrastructure without having met the agreed conditions.
These types of agreements are essential in areas where the deployment of new networks can be complex or expensive, and allow operators to share infrastructure in exchange for financial compensation.
However, Vodafone assures that Madfibra has not paid what was agreed and that, furthermore, their deployments have been irregular.
The origin of the conflict: lack of payment and irregular occupation
ComputerToday
Vodafone and Madfibra signed an agreement in 2021 so that the latter could access the British operator’s infrastructure in El Cañaveral (Madrid). However, Vodafone claims that the local operator has breached the terms, deploying its cables unilaterally and without paying the corresponding amounts.
According to the company, Calls to Madfibra to regularize the situation have been ignoredand Vodafone has had to independently inspect the sections affected by the irregular deployments.
For its part, Madfibra maintains that it only accessed this infrastructure because it was the only option available in the area. In addition, he argues that Vodafone’s prices are excessive and that the operator has billed for additional work that it does not consider necessary, such as the inspection of its networks.
The National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) has intervened in this case, agreeing with Vodafone and concluding that there was irregular occupation by Madfibra.
The CNMC emphasizes that the availability of Vodafone’s infrastructure does not excuse unauthorized use, since there are other options in the city of Madrid, such as the network of municipal galleries, to which the operator could have requested access.
It has also given Madfibra a deadline to regularize its situation. The company must decide whether it agrees to pay its debt and adhere to the original agreements. If you do not comply, Vodafone will have the right to remove the local operator’s cables and suspend the access service to its infrastructure.
This implies that Madfibra must notify its clients in advance if there is any change in the service due to this conflict..
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For Vodafone, This decision is a victory that ensures that its infrastructure is not misused without corresponding compensation. For its part, Madfibra, now owned by Excom, has declared that it will not appeal the CNMC’s decision, since the conflict began before its acquisition.
This case shows the complications of sharing infrastructure in the field of telecommunications, especially in areas where there is no extensive network. Furthermore, it highlights the importance of respecting the signed agreements, because operators depend on these contracts to make their investments in infrastructure profitable.
The CNMC’s decision marks an important precedent in the telecommunications sector in Spainwhere operators compete in an increasingly regulated and supervised environment. For Vodafone, this represents a fair measure to protect its interests, while for Madfibra it represents a warning about the risks of not complying with established agreements.
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Tags: Operators, Vodafone
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