PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- Today, the Committee for evaluation of the tender for the 3rd mobile license in Slovakia, nominated by Telecommunication office of the Slovak Republic ("Regulator"), announced that the bid of Telefónica O2 Slovakia, s.r.o. was ranked as winning ahead of Mobilkom Austria and joint offer of České Radiokomunikace and the Slovak private equity group Penta. Telefónica O2 Slovakia offered to pay SKK 150 mil (approx. € 3.9 mil) fee for the license. The license includes the right to use frequencies GSM 900 MHz, GSM 1800 MHz, UMTS and FS 29 GHz to provide telecommunications services in Slovakia, for a period of 20 years.

The Regulator stated that the right to use the frequency spectrum will be granted to the winner within 4 weeks time. Detailed license conditions and rollout plans will be specified during this period.

The Committee’s decision confirms the strength of the Telefónica Group and its increasing importance in the region. The new operations are considered as an organic expansion of the Telefónica business in the region and will take advantage of synergies with Telefónica O2 Czech Republic operations. Telefónica O2 Slovakia is now tuning its plans for successful entry to the Slovak market, which will include innovative marketing, brand and technological approach. Telefónica O2 Slovakia´s ambition is to contribute to the competitiveness of the Slovak telecommunications market, to bring benefits to the Slovak customers and also to increase the value to Telefónica’s shareholders.

Telefónica SA (NYSE: TEF)