23 May 2010
(MENAFN) A senior official at the Iraqi government said that Baghdad will soon tender a fourth mobile phone operator license in a bid to improve telecom services and bolster investment in the country, Reuters reported.
She pointed out that 15 firms including US-based Verizon Communications, South Africa’s MTN, Turkcell and the UAE’s Etisalat had expressed an interest since the cabinet initially approved a plan for a fourth phone operator in July last year.
The fourth firm, which would be selected through an open tender and operate throughout Iraq, would give 35 percent of its operating revenue to the government as part of the deal, she said.
Zain and AsiaCell, along with third mobile phone firm Korek, which is based in Iraq’s Kurdish-run north, bought 15-year licenses for $1.25 billion each in an auction in 2007.
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