Elektrim to sell small fixed-line operators to concentrate on large centers

The telecommunication and energy holding Elektrim S.A. has eventually decided to sell two out of five of its local telecom operators: ZT sw Olaf and TV-Tel. Presumably, the transaction will be completed by the end of the year. However, analysts doubt that it will be easy to sell the two companies, since the local-operators market in Poland is underdeveloped with several operators seeking strategic investors with no result. "We are witnessing a withdrawal from investing in the fixed-line business and companies currently operating in this sector are concentrating on major cities only," says an analyst with an investment bank in London. Several other local operators such as Pilicka Telefonia, and Szeptel have so far failed to find investors. "I don't think that Elektrim is an exception here," asserts the head of a telecommunications company. (Puls Biznesu, page 5) A.Z.