Eurotel Buyout Approved

The Czech Repblic's dominant land-line network, Cesky Telecom says that it has received permission to buy the 49% of the GSM operator, Eurotel Praha that it does not already own. With this acquisition of the remaining 49 % ownership interest in Eurotel Praha, from Atlantic West Cesky Telecom will become the sole owner of Eurotel. Permission was granted by the Czech Office for the Protection of Economic Competition.

The decision also imposes an obligation on Cesky Telecom to ensure that Cesky Telecom and Eurotel provide their telecommunications services under terms and conditions that are not discriminatory as to their price or quality to any other telecommunication service provider or consumer. The decision has not yet come to legal force and Cesky Telecom is in the process of its review for the purpose of determing its further action.

The competition watchdog says however that it has only made a preliminary decision, and refused to publish details until the one-month appeal period expires."

Posted to the site on 12th August 2003