Swedish 3G decision delayed

date: 27 November 2000, source: Maija Pesola, FT.com

Winners of Swedish third generation mobile phone licences will not be announced until December 16 because more time is needed to process the applications of the ten companies or consortia, Sweden's National Post and Telecommunications Agency (PTS) said on Friday.

PTS was orginally expected to announce the allocation of the four licences on offer by late November, but said it needed more time to complete the analysis of applicants.

Unlike many other European governments, Sweden has opted to award licences through a beauty contest. The applicants who can provide the fastest roll-out and the most extensive network in terms of population coverage and services will be awarded the licences.

Only a nominal fee of SKr100,000 ($11,020) and a a yearly charge of 0.15 per cent of income will be charged for each licence.

Incumbent GSM operators Telia, NetCom and Vodafone's Europolitan unit are expected to win licences as their existing infrastructure means they will be able to roll out services faster than newcomers.

The other applicants include consortia led by France Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, Hutchison Whampoa, Telefonica of Spain, and Nomura International.

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