Cosmote Misses out on 3G

October 18, 2006 - source: BWCS

Mobile operator Cosmote has failed to obtain a 3G licence in Romania; however, it is not yet clear which bidder has been awarded the right to offer 3G service in the country. Last month the Romanian government put two remaining 3G licences up for grabs, attracting four bidders.

According to reports in the local press, the four companies lining up to buy the franchises were: Cosmote, Telemobil, the National Radio-communications Group (SNR) and the RCS&RDS Group. Initially five companies had qualified to bid for the licences, but Combridge SRL, which provides services under the EuFonika brand in Romania and is owned by Magyar Telecom, withdrew before the bidding.

The Romanian regulator, the General Inspectorate for Communications and Information Technology (IGCTI), is understood to have set the price of the licences at US$35million. Having failed in its 3G bid, Cosmote, which recently re-launched services and is quickly upgrading its GSM network in Romania, said it will focus on continuing to expand its current coverage, it expects to cover the entire population with services very soon. It will also launch i-mode services in Romania over its 2.5G network next year.