CROATIAN TELEKOM ESTIMATES 2000 NET PROFIT AT 900 MILLION KUNA

ZAGREB, Dec 25 (Hina) - Croatian Telekom (HT) has estimated its net profit in 2000 at more than 900 million kuna, the head of the HT management, Ivica Mudrinic, told reporters last Thursday. This is a significant increase compared to 1999, when the company's profits amounted to 717 million kuna, he said, adding the company invested about two billion kuna in development in 2000. According to Mudrinic, HT has about 500,000 users of its mobile services, with most of them using HT's Simpa mobile network. As regards the fixed telephone network, for which HT has an exclusive concession, the company has 1.7 million users. The company's package for accessing and using the Internet (HT Hinet) is used by 150,000 clients, Mudrinic said. HT clients have also been offered the ISDN service and the company is preparing another service, ADSL (fast access to the Internet, audio and visual streaming etc). The company is preparing a package of information services for small entrepreneurs as well, Mudrinic said. HT has started conducting opinion polls among the users of its fixed network on whether they want phone bills with listed numbers they called. Those who chose this option will receive such bills as of January 2001. Commenting on employees and unions, Mudrinic said negotiations with the unions on a new collective agreement were underway. (hina) rml