Latvia seeks mobile operator in GSM 1800 frequency

  • 2000-08-10
RIGA (BNS) - The Latvian government decided Aug. 1 a tender for the third mobile communications operator in Latvia will be announced for the GSM 1800 frequency, Transport Minister Anatolijs Gorbunovs told reporters.

He said the government ordered the ministry to set up the tender committee in October or November and work out the auction regulations. Gorbunovs said a third mobile communications operator in the market could promote lowering of telephone tariffs and raise the number of mobile phone users.

Presently Latvia has two mobile communications operators. Latvijas Mobilais Telefons operates in NMT, GSM 900 and GSM 1800 frequencies, while Baltcom GSM operates mobile communications in GSM 900 and GSM 1800 frequencies.

Each have a third of the GSM 1800 frequency while another part of the frequency was retained with a view that the third operator might launch in Latvia in the future.