Europe : Tele2 and TLTOB and Stockholmsbörsen, the leading alternative pan-European telecommunications company, announced that a consortium led by Tele2 has been awarded a combined GSM 1800 and UMTS licence in Croatia.

Tele2 will start building out the network in Q1 2005, with a commercial launch planned for 2005. This is the third GSM and UMTS licence to be awarded in Croatia. Croatia’s population is 4.4 million and the country's mobile penetration is currently around 60%.

Lars-Johan Jarnheimer, CEO of Tele2 said; “We are delighted to have been awarded this licence and we look forward to providing the people of Croatia with a low priced mobile alternative.”