Low bidder for the first phase of the Turkish armed forces integrated communications system (TAFICS) is a venture led by Germany's Siemens with a price of $212.2 million. The project is being handled for the military by state Turk Telekomunikasyon (Turk Telekom).

Four ventures of local and intemational companies submitted bids. They are:

Siemens with Turk Siemens, Simko and Maktas - $212.2 million Netas, Erko and Telerko with Canada's Northern Telecom and Germany's ANT - $217.6 million the Starkon group, which includes the UK's Marconi and Italy's Page Europa with Alarko and Alsim - $254.3 million the Netherlands' Philips and Canada's Canac with STFA Telekom - $286.9 million However, two other ventures have objected to their elimination from the shortlist during screening of applications. They are:

France's Alcatel Group with Teletas, Attlia Dogan and Iska Kablo the US' Aydin Group, with Aydin Yazilim, Oztas and Ozgun Kablo The long-awaited project calls for the installation of a communications system using fibre optics for the military, which will also have civilian uses.