The Czech government has awarded Etel Group a full public telecommunications licence, allowing the Dublin-based firm to compete more effectively in that country when its telecom sector becomes deregulated in 2001. Etel, a leading phone service and Internet provider for firms in Central Europe, was one of the first foreign firms to win the licence. "Etel is already a leading alternative corporate provider in the Czech Republic," said Ms Wendy Hederman, Etel's chief regulatory officer. "But with this new licence . . . it will enhance those services to our growing number of customers."