Sofia - Bulgaria's telecommunications authority KSR on Tuesday announced a tender for the country's fourth mobile phone operator at a starting price of 38 million leva (30.17 million dollars).

The terms of participation would be revealed by June 10 and the tender would be opened in the latter half of July, the state news agency BTA reported.

A dozen firms, including the Turkcel of neighbouring Turkey, already expressed interest in joining M-Tel, Globul and VivaTel on the mobile phone market.

Bulgaria, with 7.6 million inhabitants, joined the European Union in 2007. (dpa)