FRANCE TELECOM TO BECOME 3RD CELL OPERATOR IN ARMENIA By A. Manvelian, translated by A.M. Yesterday unofficial information was received that France Telecom is to become the third cell operator in Armenia. The official governmental statement about this decision is to be made in three days. Yesterday were considered the proposal packages of the three pretending companies (France Telecom, CEO Blackrock Communications and MSA Tele2 AB), which had applied for cell operation and radio frequencies exploitation license. The head of the tender commission, ex-minister for communications and transportation Andranik Manukian stated that Orange (France Telecom) had provided for 51,500 million Euro investments, MSA Tele2 AB for 45,600 million Euro and CEO Blackrock Communications for 31,660 million. In a briefing after the commission’s session Communications and Transportation Minister Gurgen Sarkisian said the proposal packages were the only criteria by which the companies were selected. He said that the winner will be given the license already in December and become ready for operating. It is expecting that emerging another cell operator in Armenia shall improve the quality of cell communication in Armenia and lower the prices. | 
