Telecommunications Regulation Bureau director Lawrence Tou Veng Keong said the government could open up the city’s landline telecommunications market later this month. MTEL, Ltda was the sole bidder for last year’s tender to break the monopoly held by Companhia de Telecomunicações de Macau SARL (CTM). A second licence will very likely be granted to MTEL, Mr Tou said last month. MTEL is to set up a joint venture with Chinese telecommunication equipment and network solutions provider ZTE Corp and invest up to MOP1 billion (US$125 million). In addition, Mr Tou said the government would keep talking to CTM about reducing the leased line fees that the operator charges other telecommunications companies to use its network, in order to better meet market needs, our sister publication Business Daily reports. The company’s competitors have complained about the high costs of the fixed-line fees.
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