On Friday, the Czech Telecommunications Office said that both bids submitted for Czech UMTS licenses were valid and that Eurotel (51% owned by Cesky Telecom) bid CZK 3.54 bil. and RadioMobil (39% owned by Ceske radiokomunikace) bid CZK 3.86 bil. RadioMobil will get the only of the three licenses that carries an additional GSM spectrum. The news was neutral, and did not have any impact on the telecom stocks. The licenses should be awarded by December 14, when the first payment installment (CZK 1 bil.) is due (the rest is to be paid over 10 years).
(Ondrej Datka)