Warsaw (Puls Biznesu) – Netia Mobile, a mobile company controlled by listed Netia telecom and investment fund Novator of Island, applied at Polish telecommunication authorities URTiP to reserve all free 99 channels for mobile telecoms in GSM 1800 MHz standard. ‘The company applies for reservation of those frequencies nation-wide for 25 years’, Netia wrote. The application was submitted on May 9th, just after the tenders for GSM and UMTS frequencies were ended. The first tender was had no winner as no company made an offer high enough. The second tender was won by Netia, which offered PLN 350 m (EUR 83.8 m).
Whether the company will use the frequencies remains unknown. Netia said that without GSM frequencies its businessplan was endangered. It has time until Monday to make decision whether it buys UMTS licence. ‘The supervisory board is holding its meeting. The decision will probably be made on Friday but we will reveal it on Monday’, Jolanta Ciesielska, Netia spokesperson said.
If Netia gives up the frequencies, Qiana Investments controlled by Hutchison of Hong Kong will be offered them as it placed second-highest offer of PLN 100 m. Whatever Netia’s decision, the tender will probably be protested by all other participants, i.e. Poland’s mobile telecommunication companies. ‘The management have decided and we are going to appeal’, Witold Pasek, PTC spokesman. PTC’s offer of PLN 330 m was rejected due to formal mistakes. Polkomtel, which was also disqualified because of formal reasons, has already filed a suit to cancel the tender. Centertel will probably do the same.
URTiP will probably organise another tender for free frequencies. The minimal price will probably be lowered. There is also a chance that 99 channels will be divided.
(PLN 1 = EUR 0.239)Poland/Enterprises/Telecommunication