NG Koleje Telekomunikacja's $300-million investment

The Polish-British telecom-consortium NG Koleje Telekomunikacja plans to significantly boost its capital in the near future and invest $300 million over the next two years developing its nationwide fiber-optic network, based on the 5,000 kilometers of network leased from Polish State Railways (PKP). Last month, the company was granted a long-distance telecom license and is negotiating terms with Telekomunikacja Polska S.A. (TPSA) for connection to its network. NG Koleje president Steven Marshall confirmed the company will significantly raise its capital within the next three months, but it is not yet certain how many new shares each of the shareholders will acquire. PKP has a 42.5% stake in the company, while British-companies National Grid and Energis each hold 23.75% (Puls Biznesu, page 3) T.J.