URT plans to issue fourth UMTS mobile phone license for euro 650 million

The Telecommunications Regulatory Office (URT) plans to issue a fourth UMTS mobile phone license next year, although finding a bidder willing to pay euro 650 million for it is likely to be very difficult. Last year the Telecommunications Ministry awarded the third-generation UMTS licenses to Poland's three incumbent mobile telecoms operators, Centertel, Polkomtel and Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa (PTC). Each paid the minimum auction price of euro 650 million, since nobody else placed a bid. When issuing the licenses, the Ministry left itself the option of awarding one more license in 2002 or later. However, demand is not likely to improve next year, as the introduction of the UMTS platform is proving more difficult and costly in terms of technology than it was originally thought. (Puls Biznesu, p. 6) T.J.