Georgian Regulator Says 3 Cos Apply for GSM 1800 Mobile License

TBILISI, Nov 28 (Prime-Tass) -- Three companies have applied for a mobile license in the GSM1800 standard valid across all of Georgia, the country's National Communications Commission said Tuesday.

The bids were accepted until Monday.

The three companies include Georgian mobile operator Magti (former MagtiCom), and two little-known companies, Serviceline and Dzheokominvest, the regulator said.

The auction had been announced following a request for the frequencies from Georgian mobile operator Mobitel, which did not submit an application, the regulator said.

The commission said earlier that the results were to be announced on December 15. The commission planned to auction frequencies from 1.740 Megahertz (MHz) to 1.741 MHz, from 1.835 MHz to 1.836 MHz, and from 1.781 MHz to 1.785 MHz for 7.7 million lari.

The Georgian GSM mobile market is split between two operators, Geocell and Magti. Mobitel, a subsidiary of Russia?s second largest mobile operator VimpelCom, has a GSM 1800 license valid till 2013, but has not yet started commercial operations.

(1.7315 lari - U.S. $1)

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Posted to the site on 28th November 2006