Vodafone Share News (VOD)

MADRID, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Spain's antitrust body said itfined telecoms companies Telefonica, Vodafone and France Telecom's Orange a record 120 million euros($159 million) for charging too much for text messages. The regulator said on Thursday Spain's three biggest mobileoperators had exploited their dominant position between 2000 and2009 and passed on overpriced services termination rates toconsumers with high charges for text messages. Former monopoly Telefonica must pay 46.5 million euros,while Vodafone and Orange must pay out 43.5 million euros and 30million euros respectively, the National CompetitionCommission(CNC) said in a statement. Revenue from text messages has dropped significantly inSpain to 184 million euros in the second quarter of 2012 from419 million euros in the fourth quarter of 2008, according toSpain's telecoms watchdog CMT. Telefonica charged 0.15 euros a message in Spain until2006, when it halved the price in exchange for a fee of 2 eurosa month. The average cost of MMS messages in Spain rose to 0.64 eurosper message in 2009 from 0.38 euros in 2005, while terminationrates remained stable, according to the CNC. Operators have faced rising competition from free instantmessaging services such as WhatsApp and cheap offers fromsmaller players like Yoigo and virtual mobileoperators. "Telefonica totally disagrees with the fine imposed by theCNC today because it considers it completely unfair," aTelefonica source said, adding that the company would appeal. Vodafone, which has the second highest market share in Spainand no.3 player Orange, also said they would appeal the CNC'sdecision.