Euskaltel sentenced to pay Orange 222 million euro in damages

A regional court in the Basque Country has validated a decision by the International Court of Arbitration that sentenced cable operator Euskaltel to pay France's mobile operator Orange 222 million euros in damages over the pair's mobile partnership termination.

The Basque cable operator Euskaltel said it will appeal the Basque court's decision.

In November 2006, Euskaltel opted to become a virtual mobile operator using the Vodafone network and broke the partnership with Amena, nowadays Orange. Both operators claimed the right to existing customers.

Spanish telecoms regulator CMT settled the dispute by Euskaltel and Amena had to continue their partnership until customers chose between the two operators.