LJUBLJANA, Aug 31, 2007 (AFP) - Slovenia began accepting tenders Friday for a 49.13 percent stake in the state-owned telecommunications operator Telekom, amid pressure from the European Commission.

In an advertisement published in the British business daily Financial Times as well as the Slovenian and European Union official bulletins, the government invited potential buyers to present non-binding bids until October 15.

A commission will request binding offers from shortlisted bidders in a second phase of the process, the government said.

BERLIN, Aug 27, 2007 (AFP) - German Telecommunication giant Deutsche Telekom plans to find a low-cost partner for its troubled IT unit in a move that will affect 16,000 computer programming jobs, newsweekly Focus reported on Monday.

Focus said the group planned to transfer 16,000 jobs from its Systems Integration business, a unit of its T-Systems IT division, to a new joint venture.

It is currently seeking a partner that is 'as stable and internationally active as possible.'

BERLIN, Aug 9, 2007 (AFP) - German Telecommunication giant Deutsche Telekom said Thursday it was on track to meet its forecast for the year thanks to robust growth in international revenues despite a punishing second quarter.

Net profit in the quarter ending June 30 dropped 40.3 percent to 608 million euros (836 million dollars) compared to the same period last year.

However underlying earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) climbed 1.3 percent to 4.8 billion euros as net revenue rose 2.9 percent to reach 15.58 billion euros.