CRA Press Releases
CRA ANNOUNCES BIDDERS FOR A THIRD GSM LICENCE
The Communications Regulatory Agency (CRA) publicly opened tender bids for the third mobile operator in BiH at 14:00 hours today. The bidders are: Croatian Telecomm, Eronet, Rumeli Telekom, Zepterfone, VIP BiH and VIP BiH.
CRA hopes to issue the third GSM licence in BiH by the end of the summer. By doing so, the telecommunications in BiH will be richer by an additional mobile operator, who will through sufficient technical and economic capacity, ensure a competitive and effective market providing competitive rates for subscribers for the services offered.
Having always worked in a transparent manner, CRA also announces that an executive summary containing all relevant information about the bids, will be available to the public as of next Wednesday.
CRA IS NOT SELLING STATE WEALTH
“The Communications Regulatory Agency (CRA) has not decided to sell BiH national wealth for nothing”, said today the CRA CEO Mr. Jerker Torngren. The BiH Council of Ministers (CoM) has earlier decided that GSM licences to the publicly owned operators will be issued at no cost. Therefore, this decision of the CoM prevented the CRA from charging signifiA from charging significantly higher third mobile operator in the country.
” The CRA main focus will remain in securing the competition in this sector in BiH, and consequently future investments in telecomm infrastructure in the country”, concluded Mr. Torngren.
BIDS FOR A THIRD GSM LICENCE OPENED
The Communications Regulatory Agency (CRA) will today publicly open tender bids for the third mobile operator in BiH. Friday, 15 June 2001, 1300hrs., marked the deadline for submissions.
One of the most important aims for the CRA is to secure the best-qualified operator capable and willing of making significant investment in this countryąs infrastructure and future. Cost-effective telecommunications investment is precisely what the CRA aims to safeguard in BiH, as it amounts to a vital prerequisite for the well-being of the citizenry and for attracting other investments in all sectors. The Agencyąs actions undertaken relating to mobile operator services have been the most appropriate and effective. Back on 30 April 2001 the CRA issued two GSM licences to the existing publicly owned operators in BiH: PTT BiH and Mobilna Srpske. In accordance with prior decisions of the Council of Ministers (CoM), these two operators were not charged any fee for the issuance of the licences. Therefore, it is not possible for the CRA to charge any the any third operator a significant on-off fee. All three must be competitive, on equal terms.
Finally, the tender process for the third operator has been held in the public domain. The BiH Council of Ministers has been kept informed every step of the way. However, while the CRA while remain fully open for the consultations and informing the CoM about its actions, the decision-making process is, and will be within the CRA mandate.