RCS&RDS operator is considering the possibility of rivalRomtelecom interfering in the fight for UPC Romania, which wouldcomplicate the battle for the acquisition of the second-largestoperator on the television services market, with 1.2 millionclients. RCS&RDS, 'the enfant terrible of the telecom market',controlled by Oradea businessman Zoltan Teszari, 41, wanted tostrike gold by acquiring UPC, before the other players could doanything, and create a group with around 10 million television,Internet, fixed and mobile telephony subscriptions and nearly onebillion dollars in annual turnover.
However, when the negotiations between RCS&RDS and UPC becameknown on the market, other players became interested in UPC, inkeeping Teszari's company from consolidating into a telecom market'monster', which could control cable or Internet prices through towhat Romanians see on TV, more than anything.
"RCS is considering the possibility of Romtelecom entering talks totake over UPC," said a source close to the Oradea-basedcompany.
Another source says: "It is to be expected that Romtelecom wouldbecome involved, as well, at least to boost the price a little andto find out the details of the transaction."
On the other hand, Romtelecom declined comment. A week ago, afterit became known that RCS was in talks with UPC, the first reaction,an unofficial one, was: "We would like to, but the Germans won'tlet us do it." Although Romtelecom is held by Greek group OTE (54%stake) and the Romanian state (46%), from a strategic point of viewthe company is controlled from a distance by Deutsche Telekom,OTE's biggest private shareholder.
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