Legal experts argue GSM cannot be forced to share internal roaming rights

Legal specialists argue that the Telecom Minister is wrong to claim that he can force domestic GSM operators to share internal roaming rights. If the analysts are right and these GSM operators do not take part in the UMTS third generation telephone tender, then the profitability for foreign investors taking part will be thrown in doubt. When the Telecom Ministry released the final rules for the tender on Oct. 10, it was heavily criticized by domestic GSM operators, who threatened they would not take part and that they would not provide their roaming services to other investors if they did not receive UMTS licenses. The experts claim that the telecom bill, which will be introduced in 2001, cannot be applied to domestic roaming. (Puls Biznesu, p. 0)