Over the past year, telcos have borrowed huge sums to buy operating licences for the coming 3G (third generation) mobile phones.
New operating licences that would allow the largest casinos to offer up to 1,250 slot machines with unlimited prizes, could be issued by the beginning of 2006.
Unions have accused Norwegian of undermining labour conventions, with the ITF likening its pursuit of operating licences to the shipping practice of registering vessels under flags of convenience.
Certainly, some of the ideas mooted making it illegal for EU citizens to remit funds to Switzerland, or withdrawing the operating licences of Swiss banks within the EU seem outlandish.
Instead of paying through the nose for Microsoft operating licences, while millions of Brazilians live in poverty, the government will use open-source software, collaboratively designed by programmers worldwide and owned by no one.
Businesspeople generally argue that an indictment or a criminal charge can cause unacceptable damage, including the loss of operating licences, government contracts and customers, so their only realistic choice may be to settle, even if they have a good chance of being acquitted.
