Technology giants Nokia and Motorola have both offered to build an emergency 
communications network in Poland, a deputy defence minister said on Tuesday.

The contract, worth up to 700 million zlotys ($177 million), is expected to be 
part of an investment offset programme by either Lockheed Martin of the U.S. or 
Finnish Patria.

Late last year NATO member Poland chose Lockheed Martin F-16 jets in a $3.5 
billion tender for a multi-purpose fighter, and Patria armoured personnel 
carriers in a $1.3 billion deal. "Right now we are analysing the two offers and 
the decision will be made after more technical and financial analysis...by mid-
May," Deputy Defence Minister Janusz Zemke told reporters in the southern town 
of Siemianowice Slaskie.

Warsaw's left-wing government meets later on Tuesday to discuss the offset 
offer in the Lockheed Martin deal, reportedly worth up to $12 billion, if 
counted with so-called multipliers to boost the value of investments in 
preferred sectors.

The construction of a single Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA) system will 
replace Poland's existing police, firefighter and border guard networks.

In fellow east European NATO member Hungary, mobile telephone operators are 
considering a joint bid to build a TETRA network after several aborted 
tenders.