India Fines Google for Monopolising Its Operating System

India's antitrust regulator has fined Google 13,4 billion rupees ($162 million) for monopolizing its Android smartphone operating system.

The Competition Commission of India fined Google for using its "dominant position" to require its own apps to be installed on new smartphones. The Commission also noted that Google's main apps, such as Chrome and YouTube, on Android phones are an advantage that makes it difficult for competitors to penetrate the market.

Google, by making pre-installation of Google's proprietary apps (particularly Google Play Store)... for all Android devices manufactured, distributed and marketed by device manufacturers, has reduced the ability and incentive of device manufacturers to develop and sell devices operating on alternative versions of Android,

the CCI said in a statement.

The regulator also banned Google from requiring its apps to be pre-installed and mandated that users be able to uninstall apps and choose a search engine of their choice.

Google generated about $257,6 billion in global revenue last year, so the fine is not significant for Google, but the CCI's ruling and proposed remedial measures could affect Google's growth in the world's second biggest smartphone market, where Android is the number one mobile operating system.