Etisalat mulling over Iraq’s telecom option, to decide by year en
www.WirelessFederation.com/news: The second-largest Arab telecom operator by market value, Emirates Telecommunications Corp, or Etisalat said that it will decide whether to bid for a licence or buy a stake in a local player in Iraq, by the end of 2009.
The company is holding talks with Korek Telecom of Iraq, to acquire 51% stake in the company. Etisalat is also planning to bid for fourth mobile telecom license in Iraq after the government announced plans earlier this year to launch a new auction.
Etisalat is waiting to hear from the Libyan authorities about the company’s bid for a license in the region besides, bidding for third mobile license to be launched by the Syrian government.
The company is also keeping a close eye on Iran’s situation where the Abu Dhabi-based company along with a consortium won an international tender for Iran’s third mobile phone license in 2009. However, the deal later fell through.
Syria plans 3rd mobile licence, Russian biggies show interest
The Syrian government plans to offer 3rd mobile licence in the country and is in talks already with the Russian mobile operators for the network launch. “They have an idea to add one more mobile operator there. The participation of Russian companies in the Syrian mobile market is possible,” Russia’s Communications Minister Igor Shchyogolev reportedly said.
The Russian number one MTS plans entering Syrian market if given an offer, MTS spokeswoman Irina Osadchaya stated, while Vimplecom confirms that Syria is a country it has looked at for its ongoing overseas expansion plans. Megafon also would like to give it a chance.
