COBALT advised AB “Lietuvos radijo ir televizijos centras” (LRTC)

The Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania adopted a final decision, which recognized that AB “Lietuvos radijo ir televizijos centras” (LRTC), represented by COBALT, could transfer the radio frequencies to UAB Mezon, a company managed by UAB “Bitė Lietuva”, in 2020. Radio frequencies formed an essential part of the transferred LRTC internet services business “Mezon” (transaction value – about EUR 30 million). The transfer of frequencies required the permission of the Communications Regulatory Authority, which AB “Telia Lietuva” (hereinafter – Telia) complained on the basis of competition rules in order to prevent the transfer of frequencies,. After almost two years of litigation, the Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania rejected Telia’s complaint in its entirety.

This case is important for the development and competition of the Internet services market. The Supreme Administrative Court of Lithuania also provided important clarifications both regarding the application of competition rules and the separation of the legal regulation of acquisition of rights to radio frequencies by auction and transfer (on the secondary market).

LRTC was advised and represented by COBALT partners Elijus Burgis and Rasa Zaščiurinskaitė, senior lawyers Justinas Šileika and Julija Aleška.