BOGOTA, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Colombian telecommunications company ETB is free to reinitiate its search for a strategic partner thanks to a Thursday court ruling that reversed a previous judge's decision blocking the hunt.

ETB, or Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Bogota ETB.CN, had been barred in September from searching for a partner, based on a legal complaint by its workers.

But the Administrative Tribunal of Cundinamarca, the province where capital city Bogota is located, said it lifted the ban in a Thursday decision.

The company's labor union opposes the search for a partner, which ETB began in July. The company says it needs a strategic partner to provide capital.

ETB, controlled by the city of Bogota, competes with Spain's Telefonica (TEF.MC: Quote, Profile, Research) and Telmex (TELMEXL.MX: Quote, Profile, Research) (TMX.N: Quote, Profile, Research). (Reporting by Luis Jaime Acosta)