Telegate to Sue Deutsche Telekom

Telegate, the number two provider of telephone information services in Germany, said Wednesday it intended to sue German telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom for charging excessive fees for the provision of user data. Telegate said it was demanding from the former monopolist repayment of €70 million ($93 million) in fees plus accrued interest for charging "significantly excessive fees for the provision of user data for alternative telephone inquiry providers." Furthermore, Telegate was currently looking to see whether additional compensation claims could be filed against Deutsche Telekom, it said in a statement. The excessive data cost payments "led to an extreme financial burden for Telegate, particularly during the initial market start-up, creating a clear competitive disadvantage against the ex-monopolist," the statement said.