Mexican monopoly watchdog to probe Slim's telcos

MEXICO CITY, Oct 29 (Reuters) - Mexico's monopoly watchdog will start two new investigations within three weeks into the dominance of telephone giants America Movil and Telmex, both controlled by billionaire tycoon Carlos Slim.

It will be the second time in a decade that the Federal Competition Commission will probe Telmex (TELMEXL.MX)(TMX.N), which has 90 percent of all fixed lines in Mexico, and could lead to restrictions.

It will be the first commission investigation into America Movil (AMXL.MX)(AMX.N), Latin America's biggest cell phone company, with operations in 15 countries and more than 143 million subscribers.

"There will be two investigations that will start at the same time," commission president Eduardo Perez Motta told reporters. Asked when they would start, he said: "I think it is a matter of weeks, I hope no more than three weeks."

A spokesman for Slim's companies was not immediately available for comment.

In 2001, the commission declared Telmex to be dominant in various telecommunications areas like local, long distance and international services.

But after a long legal battle, last year a court threw out the commission's findings and ruling, saying there was insufficient proof against Telmex.

Perez Motta has said that the size of Telmex justifies applying asymmetrical regulations, more strict than on its rivals, in relation to Telmex's eventual entry into new telecommunications business areas.

Mexican telephone and cable television companies are gearing up to offer so-called "triple play" services, offering telephone, television and Internet access via the same connection.