(Telecompaper) The European Commission has imposed a fine of EUR 38.838 million on Slovak Telekom and its parent Deutsche Telekom for having pursued during more than five years an abusive strategy to shut out competitors from the Slovak market for broadband services. The conclusion came after an in-depth investigation which started in 2009 for Slovak Telekom and in December 2010 for Deutsche Telekom. In particular, the EC concluded that Slovak Telekom refused to supply unbundled access to its local loops to competitors, and imposed a margin squeeze on alternative operators. Deutsche Telekom as parent company with decisive influence is also responsible for the conduct of its subsidiary; it is therefore jointly and severally liable for Slovak Telekom's fine. Deutsche Telekom also received an additional fine of EUR 31.07 million to ensure sufficient deterrence as well as to sanction its repeated abusive behaviour (recidivism) as it had already been fined in 2003 for a margin squeeze in broadband markets in Germany.