Bulgaria officially launched a tender for a 15-year licence for a second digital mobile phone operator at a minimum initial price of $40 million. The public tender announcement, published in the official State Gazette, said bidders could buy tender documents until November 30. Senior government officials have said the licence could be awarded by year-end. Bidders should be GSM operators with minimum three years of experience in building, maintaining and operating a GSM network. They also should have at least two million subscribers and GSM networks built in at least two countries but not on Bulgaria's territory. The winner in the tender would be granted preferences if it decided to compete in the planned privatisation of the Bulgarian Telecommunications Company (BTC) and a tender to build, maintain and operate a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS).
