ANKARA, Turkey-The Turkish government announced the time frame for auctioning two new wireless telephone licenses. The tender for two Global System for Mobile communications licenses is scheduled for March, Reuters reported. Each is expected to bring $650 million.
The government also plans in April to ask for bids for a 20-percent stake in Turk Telekom.
The two new GSM licenses will be for the 1800 MHz frequency band, with a third license to be awarded to Turk Telekom. Turkey’s two established wireless operators use the 900 MHz band. Turkcell, partly owned by Sonera of Finland, and Telsim, in which Motorola Inc. has a stake, are not eligible to bid for the new tenders.
The report said three consortia are interested in the GSM licenses: Spain’s Telefonica, Turkey’s Sabanci Holding and Dogan Holding; U.S.-based SBC Communications Inc. and Koc Holding; and Telecom Italia and Turkey Isbank. France Telecom said last week it, too, would participate in a bidding consortium-with Turkey’s Fiba Holding, Finansbank and Enka Insaat.
