Business | Telecoms

Iran invites bids for third mobile operator

Iran is inviting companies from yesterday to bid to become the Islamic Republic's third mobile operator, the official IRNA news agency reported.

  • Reuters
  • Published: 23:12 August 25, 2008
  • Gulf News

Tehran: Iran is inviting companies from yesterday to bid to become the Islamic Republic's third mobile operator, the official IRNA news agency reported.

The two existing operators in Iran, which has a population of about 70 million people, are the state telephone company and Irancell, a firm that is 49 per cent owned by MTN Group, sub-Saharan Africa's biggest mobile firm.

Tender documents

"The invitation to take part in the tender will take place through mass circulation newspapers from Shahrivar 4 to 14 [August 25 to September 4]. The sale of tender documents will take place on Shahrivar 16 [September 6]," IRNA said using the Iranian calendar.

The news agency was quoting Saeed Mahdiyoun, the official in charge of setting up the third mobile network.

The report named the consulting firm for the project as Millennium Finance Corporation (MFC), an investment bank created by a team of bankers from major international investment banking firms in partnership with Dubai Islamic Bank.

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