Telecom Min. considers granting fewer UMTS licenses

The Telecommunications Ministry is considering decreasing the number of third generation mobile UMTS licenses from five to four. If the Ministry decides to issue four each will cost euro 971.25 million. If the number of licenses increases to five, the price will be euro 650.25 million which is less than the original plan of five licenses at euro 750 million. Unofficial sources say next year the government would still like to earn zl. 7 billion from UMTS licenses. The Ministry is also considering extending the payment period from ten years to 15. Licenses will be granted for 20 years and not 15 as in the previous proposal. Telecommunications Minister Tomasz Szyszko said the number of licenses will be announced as soon as the Ministry finishes its analysis, which could be as soon as today. (Rzeczpospolita, page B1