Bulgaria's Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) has rejected media allegations that it has called a tender for a fourth mobile operator.

The speculations spread after CRC launched a tender for a 3G mobile phone network license, following a request from potential bidder, 4G COM, filed in early July.

The initial price for the tender has been set at BGN 49.5 M.

Participants are to file their applications for the 15-year UMTS license by November 14 and the auction is due to take place on December 07.

Three mobile operators operate in Bulgaria at present - Mtel, Globul and Vivacom.

Three years ago, Bulgaria tried to call a tender for a fourth GSM operator but the procedure was suspended after the sole bidder, Liechtenstein-based TelCo, failed to submit its paperwork ahead of the July 11 deadline