Ministry releases more details of second mobile licence and plans for Omantel float

The Oman Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) has revealed further details about its plans to auction the country’s second mobile phone licence. The MoTC said in a statement that the concession would be valid for 15 years, with an option to extend for a further ten years. The deadline for bids is 19 January. The launch of a new operator would end the monopoly currently enjoyed by the Oman Telecommunications Company (Omantel). The MoTC said earlier this week that it plans to float 30% of Omantel to local investors before year end; the government has been trying to offload a stake in the telco for the past three years.