Sweden’s Telia plans to ask that country’s court system to suspen...

to win 3G spectrum. Telia, which is country’s largest carrier, said it is asking county administrative court system in Sweden to freeze PTS decision until it has processed company’s appeal. Telia appeal contends that PTS: (1) Made incorrect technical applications in license award process. (2) Failed to comply with its regulations, including not evaluating “commercial viability” of applications. (3) Ignored Swedish law which requires that license allocations be made at lowest possible cost to national economy. Telia charged that PTS awarded licenses in process that reflected public procurement proceeding and not license allocation procedure. Other issues raised in Telia appeal include concerns about role of external consultant hired by Swedish govt. to help process applications. Telia contends that consultants added “important information” to examination of applications which PTS, in alleged violation of administrative law, didn’t inform Telia about. Telia also said it wasn’t informed about questions on its application that consultants asked and that PTS didn’t refer to company for consideration. “The law states that private individuals are to have access to efficient telecommunications at the lowest possible cost,” said Telia Pres.- CEO Marianne Nivert. “But the PTS has certainly taken no law into consideration.”