Contingent liabilities

This section provides additional information and explains recent changes in the contingent liabilities as described in the consolidated financial statements for the 2018 financial year.

Lawsuits filed by partnering publishers of telephone directories. In the lawsuits filed by the partnering publishers of telephone directories, two of the suits suspended in the first instance were withdrawn in March 2019 and three appeals were withdrawn in October 2019 after the already reported ruling of the Federal Court of Justice in January 2019 went in our favor. As a result, seven proceedings are still pending with a total claimed amount of approximately EUR 50 million plus interest. For six of these suits, appeal proceedings are still in process with the German Federal Court of Justice while one claim remains suspended. Proceedings before the administrative court were brought to a close after the remaining two plaintiffs withdrew their respective suits under administrative law.

Claims for damages against Slovak Telekom following a European Commission decision to impose fines. On February 21, 2019, Slovak Telekom and Deutsche Telekom filed an appeal with the European Court of Justice against the ruling by the General Court of the European Union of December 13, 2018 in which the decision of the European Commission was partially overturned and the level of the fines reduced. With this appeal, Slovak Telekom and Deutsche Telekom are seeking, inter alia, to overturn the decision finding Slovak Telekom’s behavior as abusive.

Arbitration proceedings against T‑Mobile Polska S.A. In August 2019, Polish telecommunications provider P4 Sp. z o.o. initiated arbitration proceedings against T‑Mobile Polska S.A. The plaintiff is claiming around PLN 400 million (around approx. EUR 93 million) plus interest as payment for its alleged entitlement to retroactive mobile termination rates.