NHH rejects operators’ appeals re: cancelled mobile licences auction

Hungary’s telecoms regulator the National Communications Authority (NHH) has rejected appeals by bidders seeking to reverse the watchdog’s decision to cancel a tender for new mobile frequencies in the country. NHH launched the mobile tender in October 2008 in an attempt to introduce a fourth player in the domestic market, but abandoned it in March this year due to the deepening global financial crisis. Four groups – DreamCom Tavkozlesi, Digi, Mobinet Tavkozlesi Projekt and Invitel Tavkozlesi – submitted bids in the tender, and in early April all but Invitel submitted formal appeals to reverse the decision. The NHH said its decision to abandon the fourth licence tender was based on the opinion that ‘since the announcement of the tender, both the domestic and the international economic environment have deteriorated significantly, which questions the financing conditions and [investment] return projections of the bids.’