Cesky Telecom: all four bidders submit a binding bid Yesterday, all four bidders (Swisscom, Telefonica, Belgacom and France Telecom/Blackstone/CVC/Providence) submitted their bids for the 51% stake in Cesky Telecom. The privatization committee will announce the bids today, but some papers are saying that the privatization committee will only open the envelopes with the bids this evening. According to Finance Minister Bohuslav Sobotka the Cabinet can make a decision any time after the bids are announced. However, the PM has said that the Cabinet will decide on the privatization after Friday’s vote of non-confidence.
Separately, T-Mobile CR was granted a CDMA license (the second mobile high-speed internet access). Note that Eurotel was the only mobile operator providing CDMA-based services in the Czech Republic last year. Therefore, T-Mobile’s launch of CDMA internet access will reduce Eurotel’s competitive advantage.