Vodafone Romania had overall 9.19 million clients at the end of March this year, a 5.4% drop , representing 533,000 clients, compared to the same period, last year, data released by the British group reveals. The operational profit dropped by 22.8% in the last fiscal year up to 305.6 million euro being affected by the fine from the Competition Council, Vodafone Romania officials said.

At the end of the fiscal year, Vodafone Romania registered 37% of clients with a monthly rate while 63% were clients with prepay cards. Even though revenues continued to drop from one year to the other due to the economic difficulties on the market, the rate of decrease diminished from one quarter to the other, Vodafone Romania CEO Inaki Berroeta said.

Romania’s Competition Council announced on February 15 this year its decision to fine by 63.1 million euro Orange and Vodafone operators for abuse of dominant position following a complaint made in 2006 by Netmaster, an alternative supplier of communications. This is the biggest fine applied by the council. Orange and Vodafone announced that they will attack the decision to court.