To the RCS&RDS group, whose annual revenue stands at almost $800 million, Hungary is one of the most important markets after Romania: the company already has more than one million TV, Internet and landline phone subscriptions and is second or third on these markets. What RCS&RDS’ portfolio lacks in Hungary is mobile telephony, which would allow it to provide the whole service package like it does in Romania.
Hungary’s communications regulatory authority (NHH) said the papers submitted by the participants would be assessed until January 2, 2012, when the valid bids are announced.
There are six participants in the race: RCS&RDS, Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, Telenor, the Hungarian postal company and Viettel, an operator from Vietnam.
The entire process should be completed by January 31, 2012, according to scheduled published by NHH. The companies paid a 40 million-forint fee (EUR132,000) to participate.
This is not the first time RCS&RDS, a company founded and controlled by Oradea-based businessman Zoltan Teszari, has tried to enter the Hungarian mobile telephony business. It submitted a bid at the 2008 auction, which was cancelled in 2009 as a result of recession.
(English version by Loredana Fratila-Cristescu)