NOM seeks zl.80 million damages from TPSA for preventing service launch

Poland's first alternative provider of long-distance services, NOM, has filed for damages of over zl.80 million against Telekomunikacja Polska (TPSA), accusing the former monopolist of blocking access to the telecom market. NOM spokesman Marcin Gruszka explained that after paying zl.100 million for a long distance license, NOM had its access to the TPSA network blocked, preventing it from launching its services. It was only thanks to the intervention of the Telecommunications Regulatory Office (URT) that NOM was finally able to enter the long distance connections market. However, after operating for less than two months, its license expires at the beginning of 2002, and Gruszka complained, "We will be able to operate only for half a year, which will considerably limit the profitability of our investment." TPSA spokesman Michal Potocki countered the charges by saying, "If NOM wants to blame somebody for entering the telecom market so late they should not blame TPSA but the regulatory organs. Instead of coming to terms directly with us, NOM chose the URT as an intermediary." (Zycie, p. 7; Reuters) A.Z.