No settlements have been reached over the anti-monopoly probe into China Telecom Corp. and China Unicom Ltd. This is the first antitrust probe against state-controlled companies .

No settlements have been reached over the anti-monopoly probe into China Telecom Corp. and China Unicom Ltd., the China Business News reported, quoting a top executive with the China Unicom.

China Unicom is currently still cooperating with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) (the country’s economic planner) on the investigation of alleged monopolistic conduct in the broadband access market, said the top official on the condition of anonymity.

The company has provided the NDRC some related documents as requested; however, no results on the investigation were received by the company from the NDRC, the source added.

Previous reports have said that the anti-monopoly probe might be terminated as the two main fixed-line operators will likely reach a settlement with the NDRC.

It is unlikely to be true, the source said, adding that a termination of probe would depend on the investigation result and final decisions from the NDRC.

The investigation may also be terminated after the companies promise to rectify, if results of the investigation can testify that other reasons, rather than monopoly conduct, have caused price discrimination, the source was quoted as saying.

China Telecom is also “actively cooperating with relative authorities” to push ahead with a settlement of the issue.

The first antitrust probe against state-controlled companies may result in billions of yuan of fines, state-run CCTV reported on Nov. 9, citing Li Qing, deputy director-general of the NDRC’s department of pricing supervision.

Source:caijing