The conflict between the mobile telephony operators regarding the 1,800 MHz bandwidth has ended, as the Communications and IT Ministry (MCTI) signed two protocols with RomTelecom and Cosmorom, on one side, and MobilRom and MobiFon, on the other side.
According to the protocol signed on March 7, MobilRom and MobiFon pledged not to use the 1,800 MHz bandwidth in order to provide commercial services by December 31, 2002.
MobilRom and MobiFon own operating licences allowed them to provide services on the 1,800 MHz frequency starting with August 1, 2000.
Last year, Cosmorom requested that it should be the exclusive operator on the 1,800 MHz frequency by 2003, as a clause in RomTelecom privatisation contract stipulated.
Under the protocol signed on March, 7, MCTI, RomTelecom and Cosmorom pledged to withdraw all the lawsuits filled against each other within 15 days since the signing of the document.
On the other hand, RomTelecom and Cosmorom vowed not to file any lawsuit against MCTI, MobilRom and MobiFon, regarding the 1,800 MHz operating frequency.
The agreement also allows Cosmorom to use the 900 MHz bandwidth starting with January 1, 2003. "Cosmorom's exclusivity to operate in the 1,800 MHz by December, 31, 2002 is a stipulation of the privatisation contract concluded between the Government and RomTelecom in 1998.
If we do not comply with all the clauses, the whole contract would be re-discussed, with all the consequences therefrom derived," Communications Minister Dan Nica told. In his opinion, if the contract was re-negotiated, it would trigger lawsuits that would harm Romania's image abroad and would cast a doubt on the privatisation itself in Romania.
"The conflict between the three mobile telephony operators has seriously harmed Romania's interests and it was displayed in EU's report on 2000 as a negative example.
The two protocols prove stability to the international business environment, as the investments in Romania are safe and protected by the state," Dan Nica added.
RomTelecom, Cosmorom's main shareholder, was granted a GSM 1,800 mobile telephony licence by the Communication Ministry in 1998, without a previous auction.
The licence was RomTelecom's trump card in the privatisation negotiations with the Greek telecommunications operator OTE. MobilRom and MobiFon currently hold a GSM 900 operating licence each.
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