Telekomunikacja Kolejowa wins Poland's GSM-1800 tender

Poland’s state-owned telephone operator Telekomunikacja Kolejowa has won the tender for additional GSM frequencies, according to the Electronic Communications Office. Telekomunikacja Kolejowa will pay a total of PLN510 million (USD167 million) for the spectrum. Unsuccessful applicants included PTK Centertel and Telefonia Dialog, a unit of KGHM Polska Miedz. The new licence could open the way for a fourth mobile telephone operator on the domestic market, to compete with the current trio of carriers – Centertel, Polska Telefonia Cyfrowa and Polkomtel. Telekomunikacja Kolejowa is owned by Poland’s Treasury (62.3%) and the Polish State Railways (37.7%).