Telecom Min to issue 3 long-distance licenses by Wed

Telecommunication Minister Tomasz Szyszko announced yesterday that by Wednesday at the latest he would issue three licenses for long-distance communication. The tender for construction and servicing of long distance network was won by three consortia in January 2000 -- Netia 1, Koleje Telekomunikacja and Independent Long Distance Operator (NOM). However, the companies waited for the license in vain due to the changing of Telecommunication Ministers. Maciej Srebro was replaced by Tomasz Szyszko who needed to be brought up to speed with appropriate documents. Due to the delay, the operators will not be able to launch their services from July 1 as originally planned. Minister Szyszko also announced that he would issue third generation cellular phone licenses. "By the end of this year I will give four Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMCS) licenses for mobile operators and the Ministry will decide how to issue them in the matter of one month," said Szyszko. (Gazeta Wyborcza, page 26; Reuters) A.Z.