Competition Act 1998 cases in the regulated sectors
Updated 4 June 2025
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Airports
Conduct in the transport sector (facilities at airports)
Summary
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigated suspected breaches of competition law in respect of facilities at airports. The investigation was under Chapter I of CA98.
Opened in December 2017 and closed in November 2018.
Outcome
Infringement decision in relation to Chapter I.
Airport operation services
Summary
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) investigated alleged price fixing and suspected abuse of a dominant position in relation to access to certain facilities at an airport under Chapter I and Chapter II of CA98.
Opened in March 2015 and closed in January 2017.
Outcome
- Infringement decision in relation to Chapter I
- Chapter II closed on administrative priority grounds
Communications
Freelance and employed labour in the production, creation and/or broadcasting of television content, excluding sport
Summary
The CMA investigated suspected breaches of competition law in relation to the purchase of freelance services and the employment of staff supporting the production, creation and/or broadcasting of television content in the UK, excluding sport content.
Opened in October 2023.
Outcome
Closed on administrative priority grounds.
Purchase of freelance services in the production and broadcasting of sports content
Summary
The CMA investigated suspected breaches of competition law in relation to the purchase of freelance services in the production and broadcasting of sports content in the UK.
Opened in July 2022 and closed in 21 March 2025.
Outcome
Infringement decision in relation to Chapter I CA98.
The provision of equipment and related services in the electronic communication sector
Summary
Ofcom investigated whether competitors in the provision of equipment and related services in the electronic communications sector in the UK infringed competition law through the potential sharing of commercially sensitive information, including information on future pricing.
Opened in June 2019 and closed in December 2022.
Outcome
Infringement decision in relation to Chapter I CA98.
Parcel delivery and pick-up services
Summary
Ofcom investigated suspected agreements which establish minimum prices and impose online sales restrictions between providers of parcel delivery and pick-up services in the UK under Chapter I of CA98 and Article 101 TFEU.
Opened in November 2019 and closed in January 2021.
Outcome
Closed on administrative priority grounds.
Parcel delivery
Summary
Ofcom investigated suspected market sharing and/or customer allocation arrangements between operators in the business parcel delivery sector.
Opened in August 2018 and closed in November 2019.
Outcome
Infringement decision in relation to Chapter I CA98 and Article 101 TFEU.
FA Premier League TV rights (Virgin Media complaint)
Summary
Ofcom investigated certain arrangements in relation to the sale of live TV rights to Premier League matches under Chapter I of CA98.
Opened in November 2014 and closed in August 2016.
Outcome
Closed on administrative priority grounds.
Royal Mail (TNT complaint)
Summary
Ofcom investigated certain prices, terms and conditions offered by Royal Mail for access to certain letter delivery services under Chapter II of CA98.
Opened in February 2014 and closed in August 2018.
Outcome
Infringement decision in relation to Chapter II CA98 and Article 102 TFEU.
Wholesale supply of Sky Sports (BT complaint)
Summary
Ofcom investigated the alleged abuse of a dominant position by British Sky Broadcasting regarding the wholesale supply of Sky Sports 1 and 2 under Chapter II of CA98.
Opened in June 2013 and closed in February 2016.
Outcome
Closed on administrative priority grounds.
BT superfast broadband (Talk Talk complaint)
Summary
Ofcom investigated an alleged margin squeeze in superfast broadband pricing by BT Group under Chapter II of CA98.
Opened in May 2013 and closed in October 2014.
Outcome
No grounds for action.
Energy
Investigation into a suspected abuse of a dominant position
Summary
Ofgem investigated whether the SGN Group had infringed Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998 in relation to connections to its gas distribution network. Opened in March 2024 and closed in December 2025.
Opened in March 2024 and closed in December 2025.
Outcome
Commitments accepted.
Supply of electric vehicle charge points on or near motorways
Summary
The CMA investigated suspected breaches of competition law in respect of the supply of electric vehicle chargepoints on or near motorways.
Opened in July 2021 and closed in March 2022.
Outcome
Commitments accepted.
Wholesale trading activities
Summary
Ofgem investigated whether there had been an infringement of Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998.
Opened in December 2018 and closed in June 2019.
Outcome
Commitments accepted.
Services in the energy industry
Summary
Ofgem investigated whether PayPoint plc has infringed the requirements of Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998 and/or Article 102 Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union by abusing a dominant position in the market for the provision of over-the-counter top-up services to prepayment energy customers.
Opened in August 2017 and closed in August 2021.
Outcome
Commitments accepted.
The supply of gas and electricity to domestic customers in Great Britain
Summary
Ofgem investigated whether there had been an infringement of Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998 in relation to the supply of gas and electricity to domestic customers in Great Britain.
Opened in September 2016 and closed in May 2019.
Outcome
Infringement decision in relation to Chapter I CA98.
Commission rates
Summary
Ofgem investigated whether two or more parties had shared information on the commission rates charged to energy suppliers.
Opened in January 2015 and closed in March 2016.
Outcome
Closed, open letter issued.
Energy price comparison websites
Summary
Ofgem investigated 2 or more companies providing a supporting service for the energy industry under Chapter I of CA98. (This case was transferred to the CMA in June 2016.)
Opened in October 2015 and closed in October 2016.
Outcome
Closed on administrative priority grounds.
Energy connections – SSE
Summary
Ofgem investigated whether SSE abused a dominant position and put its competitors at a disadvantage in the electricity connections market, under Chapter II of CA98.
Opened in December 2014 and closed in November 2016.
Outcome
Commitments accepted.
Financial services
Case in the financial services sector
Summary
The FCA is investigating suspected anti-competitive conduct under Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998.
Opened in April 2024.
Case in the financial services sector
Summary
The FCA is investigating suspected anti-competitive conduct under Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998.
Opened in June 2023.
Case in the financial services sector
Summary
The FCA is investigating suspected anti-competitive conduct under Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998.
Opened in May 2023.
Case in the financial services sector
Summary
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) investigated suspected anti-competitive conduct under Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998.
Opened in November 2022 and closed in May 2024.
Outcome
Closed on administrative priority grounds.
Money transfer services
Summary
The FCA investigated an anti-competitive agreement and/or concerted practice concerning the supply of money transfer services in Glasgow.
Opened in September 2020 and closed in November 2023.
Outcome
Infringement decision in relation to Chapter I CA98.
Case in the financial services sector
Summary
The CMA investigated suspected anti-competitive arrangements in the financial services sector which may infringe the Chapter I prohibition of the Competition Act 1998.
Opened in November 2018 and closed in February 2025.
Outcome
Infringement decisions in relation to Chapter I CA98.
Case in the financial services sector
Summary
The FCA investigated suspected anti-competitive arrangements under Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998.
Opened in August 2021 and closed in March 2022.
Outcome
Closed on administrative priority grounds.
Case in the financial services sector
Summary
The FCA investigated suspected anti-competitive arrangements under Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998 and Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Opened in March 2019 and closed in December 2020.
Outcome
Closed on administrative priority grounds.
Aviation Insurance
Summary
The FCA investigated the exchange of competitively sensitive information amongst aviation insurance brokers.
Opened in April 2017 and closed in October 2017.
Outcome
The investigation was closed as the European Commission took the matter over.
Asset Management
Summary
The FCA investigated anti-competitive agreements and concerted practices concerning the sharing of information in the asset management sector.
Opened in June 2016 and closed in February 2019.
Outcome
Infringement decision in relation to Chapter I CA98 and Article 101 TFEU.
Payment services
Anticompetitive conduct in the pre-paid card services sector
Summary
The Payment Systems Regulator (PSR) investigated anticompetitive conduct in the prepaid cards market, finding 5 parties had infringed the Chapter I prohibition.
Opened in the calendar year 2017 to 2018 and closed in 18 January 2022.
Outcome
Infringement of Chapter I prohibition.
Rail
Railway Assessment Centre Forum (RACF)
Summary
The Office of Rail and Road (ORR) investigated the provision of certain training services in the passenger rail transport sector.
Opened in March 2021 and closed in 4 April 2022.
Outcome
Commitments accepted.
Rail freight
Summary
The Office of Rail and Road investigated the prices, terms and conditions in certain agreements in the carriage of freight by rail sector under Chapter II of CA98.
Opened in November 2013 and closed in December 2015.
Outcome
Commitments accepted.
Water
Thames Water
Summary
Ofwat investigated allegations of an abuse of a dominant position by Thames Water Utilities under Chapter II CA98 Thames Water Utilities under Chapter II CA98.
Opened in June 2019 and closed in March 2022.
Outcome
Commitments accepted.
Bristol Water
Summary
Ofwat investigated pricing and terms by Bristol Water in relation to self-lay connection providers under Chapter II of CA98.
Opened in March 2013 and closed in March 2015.
Outcome
Commitments accepted.
Anglian Water (Fairfields)
Summary
Ofwat investigated whether Anglian Water’s pricing conduct at the ‘Fairfield’ development in Milton Keynes caused margin squeeze under Chapter II of CA98.
Opened in December 2011 and closed in December 2015.
Outcome
No grounds for action decision.
Digital markets
Google: Distribution of apps
Summary
The CMA investigated Google’s conduct in relation to Google’s distribution of apps on Android devices in the UK, in particular Google Play’s rules which oblige certain app developers to use Google Play’s own billing system for in-app purchases.
Opened in June 2022 and closed in 21 August 2024.
Outcome
Closed on administrative priority grounds.
Amazon Marketplace
Summary
The CMA has accepted commitments offered by Amazon that address the CMA’s competition concerns in relation to how Amazon uses third-party seller data, how Amazon selects which product offer is placed within the ‘Buy Box’ and the negotiation of delivery rates for Prime orders.
Opened in July 2022 and closed in November 2023.
Outcome
Commitments accepted.
Advertising technology intermediation services
Summary
The CMA is investigating whether Google might have abused a dominant position through its conduct in ad tech. In March 2023, this investigation was combined with the CMA’s separate investigation into whether Google has abused a dominant position through its conduct in relation to header bidding services.
Opened in May 2022.
Header bidding services market
Summary
The CMA investigated whether Google and Meta entered into an anti-competitive agreement, and whether Google might have abused a dominant position through its conduct in relation to header bidding services.
Opened in March 2022 and closed in March 2023.
Outcome
The CMA decided on administrative priorities grounds to close its investigation under Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998. As a result, the CMA is no longer investigating Meta in this case.
The CMA is continuing to investigate whether Google has abused a dominant position through its conduct in relation to header bidding services under Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998. That investigation includes whether Google has abused a dominant position through its agreement with Meta.
The CMA combined the remaining part of this investigation concerning whether Google’s conduct in relation to header bidding services was an abuse of a dominant position with its investigation into Google’s conduct in adtech.
Apple AppStore
Summary
The CMA investigated Apple’s conduct in relation to the distribution of apps on iOS and iPadOS devices in the UK, in particular, the terms and conditions governing app developers’ access to Apple’s App Store.
Opened in March 2021 and closed in 21 August 2024.
Outcome
Closed on administrative priority grounds.
Investigation into Meta’s collection and use of advertising and single sign-on data
Summary
The CMA has accepted commitments that address the CMA’s competition concerns regarding Meta’s use of data obtained through digital display advertising.
Opened in June 2021 and closed in November 2023.
Outcome
Commitments accepted.