June 1, 2002
Frankfurt partner Sven-Erik Heun and associate Katrin Zwetkow win landmark ruling before the German Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Post (RegTP) against Deutsche Telekom AG with regard to its abusive practices in provisioning leased lines in Germany.
On May 31, Frankfurt partner Sven-Erik Heun and associate Katrin Zwetkow won a landmark ruling before the German Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Post (RegTP) against Deutsche Telekom AG with regard to its abusive practices in provisioning leased lines in Germany. Willkie initiated the action on behalf of the German divisions of MCI Worldcom and UUNET last October complaining that Deutsche Telekom, Europe’s largest data and phone line carrier and former state monopoly, deliberately delayed the process for delivering leased lines to telecom competitors. Pursuant to the ruling, which is the most stringent ever passed by RegTP, Deutsche Telekom AG will have to pay steep penalties if it continues to impede alternative providers from gaining access to its fixed-line network in a timely manner. Mr. Heun and Ms. Zwetkow reside in Willkie’s Frankfurt office. Mr. Heun heads a team of specialized lawyers focusing on the regulatory as well as commercial aspects of telecommunications, the Internet, and e-commerce law.