Mexico City, October 11, 2022.
On October 7, 2022, the Federal Telecommunications Institute ("IFT") published the notice of initiation of the investigation by complaint, filed under file number AI/DE-002-2022, for the possible commission of relative monopolistic practices in the market for mobile operating system application stores and related markets, at a national level. The investigated conducts are tied sales, price discrimination and increase in competitors' costs.
Regarding this investigation, the IFT explained that, through the application stores, users can download applications to their cell phones, which allows them to use their features, make use of mobile telecommunications services, and access various services and content available on the Internet, from their devices.
In this investigation, the IFT may request written information, conduct verification visits, as well as summon economic agents that participate or have a relationship with such market to testify. According to the Ley Federal de Competencia Económica ("LFCE"), there is an obligation for the economic agents that are requested and visited to cooperate and submit the requested information to the IFT.
The purpose of the publication of such investigation is to provide any economic agent with an interest in the investigation with the opportunity to cooperate and state what it deems appropriate in relation to the investigated conducts or circumstances that may be contrary to the LFCE. Therefore, any person or company that considers that it has an impact on the market under investigation will have the opportunity to express it before the IFT.
This investigation is independent of the investigation announced earlier this week by the Federal Economic Competition Commission (Mexico's other competition authority) in a similar market.
The lawyers of the Antitrust area of the Firm are at your disposal to answer any questions regarding the content of this document.
A T T E N T A M E N T,
Amilcar Peredo
Fernanda Garza
León Jiménez
Juan Maria Lopez
