Spain is investigating Vodafone Espana and could impose a fine for a network breakdown that left its 8.7 million clients without any service for more than seven hours yesterday.
A Vodafone Espana spokesman was not available for comment. The company said today it had begun its own investigation and was considering compensation for clients.
The ministry spokeswoman denied a report in El Paisnewspaper that Vodafone could face a maximum fine of 1 per cent of its total revenues in Spain, which it said was equivalent to some €30 million.
"Our experts say there is no maximum range [for a penalty]," she said, adding that Vodafone was expected to present its report on the breakdown in roughly 10 working days.
Vodafone Espana is Spain's second-largest mobile phone operator and controls 26 per cent of the market.