Era GSM plans zl.5 billion third generation investment

Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa (PTC), operator of Poland's biggest mobile phone network Era GSM, plans to invest around zl.5 billion in the development and expansion of its third generation network by the year 2008. "This is an estimate. We cannot present details of the investment due to delays in implementing UMTS worldwide," said chairman of PTC, Boguslaw Kulakowski. According to the conditions of its license, Era should commence rendering UMTS services in 2003, and by 2004 its third generation mobile network should cover at least 20% of the country. PTC plans to launch the trial operation of the network later in the year. PTC's second quarter results showed a net profit of zl.215.4 million, based on revenues of zl.1.06 billion. (Puls Biznesu, p. 4) M.T.