Brussels, 08/12/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 8 December, the European Commission notified the American company Qualcomm of its preliminary conclusions regarding abuse of dominant position, with suspicions against the company focusing on exclusivity payments and a predatory pricing strategy.
Following two formal investigations opened in July 2015 (see EUROPE 11361), therefore, the Commission reached the conclusion that Qualcomm did break EU rules on abuse of dominant position. The two statements of objections which have just been sent relate to an illegal payment, since 2011, of “considerable amounts” to a major manufacturer of smartphones and electronic tablets for using Qualcomm chipsets exclusively, and to the company's sales, between 2009 and 2011, of chipsets at prices lower than cost in order to eliminate its competitor Icera.
Qualcomm is the world's largest supplier of baseband chipsets (particularly for broadband, with 3G and 4G), which are one of the key elements for communication functions, notably touchscreen mobile phones. The company now has three and four months respectively to respond to the accusations of exclusivity payments and predatory pricing strategy. (Original version in French by Jan Kordys)