RomTelecom wins wireless licence; rivals continue with legal challenge

RomTelecom has been unveiled as the winner of the Romanian government’s auction of wireless internet spectrum in the 410-415MHz and 420-425MHz bands. It beat off the challenge of three rival bidders, NetPoint, Saudi Oger and Tactical Networks, local newspaper Ziarul Financiar reports. The new concession will enable fixed line operator RomTelecom to launch broadband wireless services in areas not currently covered by its ADSL wired broadband networks. Romanian cellular operators Orange, Vodafone, RCS&RDS and Zapp, which were not allowed to bid in the auction, have launched a legal battle to halt the licensing; they argue that the licence fee for the new permit is well below what they paid for their own cellular licences.