MADRID, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Telefonica retained itsgrip on Spain's lucrative fibre optic market in October, datashowed on Monday, days after the Spanish regulator warned itcould force the former telephone monopoly to open up itsnext-generation network to competitors.
Telefonica added 91,264 contracts in the fast-growing fibreoptic business in October to reach a total of 1.16 million,according to data released by Spain's telecoms watchdog, puttingits market share at 86 percent.
Last week, the competition watchdog CNMC proposed new rulesthat would require Telefonica to open up its fibre optic networkin all of Spain apart from nine cities, to ensure competitionand promote investment in next-generation access networks.
Meanwhile, Telefonica shed mobile clients in its Spanishhome market in October for the 42nd consecutive month, puttingits share of the mobile market at a historic low of 31.9percent. (Reporting by Robert Hetz, writing by Tracy Rucinski; Editingby Julien Toyer)
Vodafone (VOD)