Sweden's Ericsson and Germany's Siemens have returned the lowest two bids in close bidding for the supply of a long-distance telecommunications system to state Turk Telekomunikasyon (Turk Telekom), according to contracting sources. After evaluation the two lowest bidders are expected to share the project, worth about $30 million, with shares of 60 per cent and 40 per cent each.

The four lowest bidders out of six were:

Ericsson - $29.6 million;

Germany's Siemens - $31.6 million;

local joint venture Teletas - $31.7 million;

another local joint venture, Netas - $32 million

The contract calls for a computer-controlled system from a centre in Ankara using fibre-optic lines, with an automatic switching ability in case of errors in an individual line. It will also increase the capacity of the lines from 3,200 channels to 7,600 channels. The work will be completed in three phases of one year each.