FOREIGN GOVERNMENT INVITATION FOR APPLICATIONS

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000155 SIPDIS USDOC FOR 4530/ITA/MAC/ANESA/OSA EMBASSIES FOR FCS OFFICES E.O 12958:N/A TAGS: BTIO CE ECONOMICS SUBJECT: FOREIGN GOVERNMENT INVITATION FOR APPLICATIONS FOR LICENSES TO PROVIDE EXTERNAL GATEWAY SERVICES 1.542/01/T0008 2.012703 3.WHAVERY 4.542 5.N 6A.CONTACT 6B.DIRECTOR GENERAL 6CTELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA 276 ELVITIGALA MAWATHA, COLOMBO 8, SRI LANKA 7PHONE: 94-1-689345 8.FAX: 94-1-689341 E-MAIL: dgtsl@slt.lk 9.201 10.S3661.... COMMUNICATION SERVICES S9631.... LICENSING - COMMUNICATION 11.COMMENTS: Product Data A.Detailed Product Description: The Telecommunications Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka (TRCSL) invites bidders to send in their applications to obtain licenses to operate telecommunications systems to provide external gateway services. ateway services. B.Other information: (a)Applications together with the license fee should be submitted to the above address starting February 03, 2003 and the commission may seek further information, if so required. (b)The draft license is available on the web site http://www.trc.gov.lk (c)The final license is expected to be published by February 03, 2003. Conditions applicable to a license are: (1)There will be no limit to the number of licenses that will be granted to applicants. (2)The license permits the offering of wholesale and retail international origination, international termination and transit services, amongst others. (3)'Up front' license fee of U.S. Dollars 50,000 and Value added Tax (VAT) of 20 percent, should be paid at the time of submission of the application to TRCSL. (4)Annual recurrent (Cess) fee of 0.3 percent on annual gross turnover. (5)License will be initially valid for a period of 10 years. (6)The licensee will not be permitted to build its build its own domestic network infrastructure, but will be required to use infrastructure facilities of other licensed operators authorized to provide such services through interconnection to such systems. REMARKS: Post would appreciate receiving a copy of the U.S. firm's response. The copy should be sent to: Commercial Attach U.S. Embassy 210 Galle Road, P.O. Box 106 Colombo, Sri Lanka Phone: 94-1-448007 Fax: 94-1-437345 Amselem selem