Business | Telecoms
Oman to award fixed-line licence by end of October
Oman's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) is likely to announce the winner of the international bid for an integrated fixed public telecom licence by the end of October.
- By Sunil K. Vaidya, Bureau Chief
- Published: 23:39 September 10, 2008
Muscat: Oman's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) is likely to announce the winner of the international bid for an integrated fixed public telecom licence by the end of October.
On Tuesday, Mohammad Bin Nasser Al Khusaibi, chairman of TRA, held a meeting at the Radisson SAS hotel with representatives of international telecom operators and consortiums short-listed for the next phase of the process.
Initially, there were ten bidders for Oman's integrated Fixed Public Tele-communication licence and six were short-listed last month.
The representatives of the six contenders held a meeting with Al Khusaibi, but the TRA has not named any of the short-listed companies.
The participants were also given a detailed over-view of the licence award and procedures related to the next phase of the bidding. Also discussed were licensing guidelines set by the TRA.
According to the action plan developed by the TRA, companies short-listed for the next phase of the bidding process have until September 16 to seek any clarifications regarding their applications.
Bids submitted by the companies will be evaluated by October 22 and the successful bidder named before the end of the month.
The licence covers the provision of local and international fixed services, establishment of infrastructure for national and international services, radio frequencies for broadband, submarine communication cables, and transmission stations in Oman.
With the exception of broadband spectrum rights, the licence is for a period of 25 years with the option of a further renewal.
Broadband spectrum rights will be valid for 15 years with the possibility of a renewal for a further 10 years.
A minimal upfront fee of 500,000 Omani riyals is payable by the winner.
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