GOOGLE will be fined around 4.3 billion euros (US$5 billion) by the European Union over Android apps today, setting a new record for antitrust penalties, according to a person familiar with the EU decision.

The fine, to be announced about midday today, ends an EU probe into Google’s contracts with smartphone manufacturers and telecom operators. Google chief executive officer Sundar Pichai had a call with EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager late Tuesday for a so called state of play meeting, a usual step to alert companies of an impending penalty, according to one of the people.

EU commissioners are due to discuss an antitrust probe this morning, according to an online agenda.

The European Commission fine will exceed last year’s then-record 2.4 billion-euro penalty following an investigation into Google’s shopping-search service. Google owner Alphabet Inc. and the commission both declined to comment on the Android fines.

Levies are based on revenue in the market being probed and can’t exceed 10 percent of a company’s global annual revenue. Google raked in around 25 billion euros in digital advertising in Europe in 2017, equity research firm Pivotal Research estimates.

More significant than a blockbuster fine could be an accompanying order freeing up phone manufacturers to choose non-Google apps to install on Android phones. That would yield crucial real estate for app developers given that about 80 percent of smart mobile devices use Android.

EU officials have been investigating Google contracts that require manufacturers of Android phones to take Google’s search and browser apps and other Google services when they want to license the Play app store. (SD-Agencies)