The European Commission handed Google yet another extension to respond to antitrust charges relating to Android, Reuters reported.

This is the fourth time the company has been granted more time. Most recently, the deadline was pushed from 7 September to 20 September. The new deadline for the Android case is 31 October.

Google has also been given longer in cases around online search advertising and shopping (26 October and 13 October, respectively).

“In each of these cases, Google asked for additional time to review the documents in the case file. In line with normal practice, the commission analysed the reasons for the request and granted an extension allowing Google to fully exercise its rights of defence,” EC spokesman Ricardo Cardoso said in an email.

EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager has accused the search giant of “stifling competition and innovation” by using the Android platform to sideline app rivals.

The EC is unhappy that Google is the default search engine on Android devices, enabling the company to generate revenue for its core business, while also requiring prominent positions for Google apps, even where alternatives are available.

Earlier this week it was reported that the EC is mulling tough Android fines for Google that are “sufficient to ensure deterrence”.

In May it was reported that Google could face a fine of around €3 billion for manipulating search results to promote its own shopping comparison service and the maximum possible fine could be around €6.6 billion, a tenth of its annual sales.