Telefonica Loses Swiss 3G License

ZURICH -(Dow Jones)- Spanish incumbent operator Telefonica has lost its Swiss UMTS license, because it never used it, nor has it invested in the infrastructure that was part of the agreement, the Swiss communications commission said Thursday.

Telefonica's subsidiary 3Q Mobile AG gained the license in 2000 for CHF50 million.

The communications commission also said applicants for the three available wireless broadband licenses will have to make a bid on June 6, and it will announce the winners on June 8.

It said it won't provide details on the applicants and bids before then.

Commission Web site: http://www.bakom.admin.ch

-By Hans Schoemaker, Dow Jones Newswires; +41-43-4438045; hans.schoemaker@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires "

Posted to the site on 13th April 2006