Cabinet yesterday decided to hire an adviser for the sale of UMTS licenses. The Cabinet continues to expect a minimum CZK 20 bil. in proceeds from the sale of the licenses (though instead of four licenses at CZK 5 bil., as had earlier been hoped for, the minister of transport now speaks of three licenses at CZK 7 bil. each). The incumbent operators have previously indicated that they are willing to pay up to CZK 3 bil. for a license. This news should not have any impact on Czech telecom stocks.
(Ondřej Daťka)