Spanish Telefonica seeking a Polish UMTS consortium?

Shareholders of Polkomtel, Poland's second largest GSM mobile telephone operator, have decided to raise the company's capital by zl.550 million to zl.2.05 billion in preparation for a decision to participate in the tender for a third generation UMTS mobile telephone license. The Polkomtel supervisory board will meet on Dec.1, one day before the deadline. The company has already voiced its displeasure with the euro650 million price for each license. Another operator Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa (PTC) has delayed its decision about taking part in the tender, which may be an indication that domestic mobile operators are waiting to see if Spanish Telefonica will form a consortium to participate in the tender. According to Rzeczpospolita, BRE Bank, BOS, and the company Futuro.com, created by NFI Jupiter and its affiliated company ProFuturo, are no longer in the running as partners for the Madrid-based company. However the Ferrovial group, Budimex Telekomunikacja, Polpager, Softbank, ITI and Poczta Polska remain potential partners for the Spanish company. (Rzeczpospolita, p.B2; Reuters) M.M