Several of Europe’s biggest telecoms firms have been raided by European Commission antitrust investigators over concerns that the firms might be using their dominance to impede internet content providers, officials said today (11 July).

The Commission said that it suspected that the companies were intentionally damaging “internet connectivity”. They have been accused of squeezing out providers that use a lot of data, such as internet phone call services or video streaming sites.

In a statement the Commission said that internet connectivity allowed content providers “to connect to the internet so as to be able to provide their services or products at the retail level”.

“This service is crucial for the functioning of the internet and for end users’ ability to reach internet content with the necessary quality of service, irrespective of the location of the provider.”

The raids, which began on Tuesday (9 July), were carried out at Telefónica, Orange and Deutsche Telekom.

The Commission said that the investigation was a “preliminary step” that did not prejudge the outcome. If found guilty the companies could be fined up to 10% of their global turnover.