Telecom Min. to delay and revise terms of UMTS tender

The tender for third generation mobile telephone licenses (UMTS) will be delayed a few days and changed slightly. There will be no price competition as the cost of each of the five licenses has been set at euro 750 million. The latest Telecommunications Ministry decision says the money would be paid in installments, half before the end of 2001 and the remainder in several installments over six years. According to Sejm discussions, there is no reason to rush the tender other than the needs of the next year's budget. The Ministry, under growing pressure from mobile operators opposing the number of licenses, their price, as well as a provision for internal roaming service, decided to change the date of the tender to hold talks with potential investors. Still, the three Polish mobile phones operators Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa (PTC), Polkomtel and Centertel say the conditions of the tender are not satisfactory, adding the high price of gaining a UMTS license will affect their financial situation. The deputies have already addressed Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek and requested more detailed information about the tender. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 27)