Vodafone, MTN compete for Iraq mobile phone license
Reports reaching ghanabusinessnews.com indicate that Vodafone and MTN are part of fifteen telecom companies vying for the fourth mobile license in war-torn Iraq.
Other contenders in the race include USA-based Verizon Communications, Turkey’s Turkcell, UAE’s Etisalat, and France Telecom.
Iraq already has three operators – Zain, Asiacell and Korek Telecom.
Iraqi Minister of Communications, Farouq Abdul-Qadir told reporters the country plans to award a fourth mobile network license in the first quarter of next year.
He also said the new operator will be expected to provide competitive rates to existing operators, as the war-torn country focuses on improving telecom services.
The fourth license has already technically been awarded to the state-owned Iraqi Telecommunications and Posts Company (ITPC), and the government is now looking for the foreign investor to build the network.
“We are looking for a partner to operate the license for us – we will have a condition of taking a minimum of 30 percent of the revenue as we are going to provide the infrastructure, everything,” Abdul-Qadir added.
By Samuel Dowuona
Reports reaching ghanabusinessnews.com indicate that Vodafone and MTN are part of fifteen telecom companies vying for the fourth mobile license in war-torn Iraq.
Other contenders in the race include USA-based Verizon Communications, Turkey’s Turkcell, UAE’s Etisalat, and France Telecom.
Iraq already has three operators – Zain, Asiacell and Korek Telecom.
Iraqi Minister of Communications, Farouq Abdul-Qadir told reporters the country plans to award a fourth mobile network license in the first quarter of next year.
He also said the new operator will be expected to provide competitive rates to existing operators, as the war-torn country focuses on improving telecom services.
The fourth license has already technically been awarded to the state-owned Iraqi Telecommunications and Posts Company (ITPC), and the government is now looking for the foreign investor to build the network.
“We are looking for a partner to operate the license for us – we will have a condition of taking a minimum of 30 percent of the revenue as we are going to provide the infrastructure, everything,” Abdul-Qadir added.
By Samuel Dowuona