As scheduled, the Czech Telecommunications Office on Friday awarded Czech UMTS licenses to Eurotel (who had bid CZK 3.54 bil.; 51% owned by Cesky Telecom) and RadioMobil (who had bid CZK 3.86 bil.; 39% owned by Ceske radiokomunikace). The two operators paid the first installment (CZK 1 bil. each), the rest is payable over the next 10 years. Neutral for the telecom stocks.
(Ondrej Datka)