The Procurement Review Body (OSHP) has dismissed a complaint from Monaco Telecom regarding the sale of a 75% stake in state-owned telco Post and Telecommunication Kosovo (PTK), giving the government a green light to continue with the auction process. Balkan Insight reports that Monaco Telecom was one of three companies to express interest in the tender yet failed to meet prequalification criteria. Monaco Telecom’s complaint was thrown out by the OSHP as the telco failed to file its grievance within the set time frame. Also failing to qualify for the auction were Kosovar distribution company Elkos, and Geni Capital of Luxembourg.
Five companies are set to take part in the tender: Turkcell; Portugal Telecom (in partnership with Albright Capital Management); British Telecom Poland (in partnership with Columbia Capital and ACP Axos Capital); M1 International Limited; and Avicena Capital (in partnership with Sofrecom). As previously noted by CommsUpdate, the auction has come under fire from Kosovo’s Self Determination movement which claims that the funds from the sale will end up in the pockets of government officials rather than in state coffers. The movement, which opposes all foreign involvement in Kosovo’s affairs, has urged the public to protest against the tender.