BELGIAN COMPETITION AUTHORITIES OPEN INVESTIGATION INTO PROXIMUS.

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Belgium's competition authorities have opened an investigation into mobile telephony operator Proximus (Belgacom group), conducting a search of the group's headquarters on January 19. According to Base, one of Proximus's main competitors alongside Mobistar (France Telecom group), a score of investigators searched Proximus offices. Proximus has confirmed in a statement that an investigation has indeed been launched following a complaint lodged by Base. Base accuses its rival of excluding it from the business clients market by undercutting prices. The competition service at Belgium's Economic Affairs Ministry is concerned that Proximus might be "charging its professional clients too little", according to the Competition Council, which investigates cases uncovered by the Ministry.

Base spokesman Bart...