UMTS launch may be put on hold by regulators until after January 2005

Mobile phone operators are considering submitting a motion to the Telecommunications and Postal Regulatory Office (URTiP), to further delay the launch of third generation services (UMTS), Prawo i Gospodarka has learned. "We're watching what's happening in other countries and if progress can still not be seen in the development of this technology, we will certainly not try to start with UMTS ahead of everyone else", said president of Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa (PTC), Boguslaw Kulakowski. The fate of the motion is highly uncertain as URTiP recently changed the launch date from January 1, 2004 to January 1, 2005. The office's representatives emphasized that such technology should appear in Poland as soon as possible. According to Communication Ministry estimates regarding UMTS services, Poland should follow Western Europe with a delay of less than one year. The operators are also expected to continue in their efforts to annul future installments paid for the UMTS license. (Prawo i Gospodarka August, 10-11, pp. 1, 3) M.K.