Czech watchdog strikes down complaints vs O2 deals

PRAGUE, Oct 12 (Reuters) - The Czech competition watchdog (UOHS) said in Thursday it had turned down a protest by telecoms firm GTS Novera against two IT Ministry orders awarded to dominant telecoms player Telefonica O2 Czech Republic <SPTTsp.PR>.

The two deals, worth 805 million crowns ($35.71 million), give O2 the business of providing internet connections to public libraries and interconnection of public administration networks.

GTS Novera had complained that it could not submit bids because of narrowly set conditions in the tenders.

The UOHS said the decision had not entered legal force and GTS Novera had 15 days to appeal its decision.

The CTK news agency said that until the decision takes effect, state institutions involved cannot sign contracts with O2. An UOHS spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

((Reporting by Jan Lopatka, editing by ; prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: jan.lopatka.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420-224 190 474))

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Keywords: TELECOMS CZECH 02