Iraq launches mobile tender

Iraq has officially launched a tender for four 15-year wireless licences. The government said it expects to award the concessions by June this year. There are currently three mobile operators in Iraq: GSM licensees Orascom Telecom Iraq (Iraqna), MTC Atheer and Asia-Cell which between them claimed 3.5 million subscribers at the end of 2005. The government plans to grant wireless local loop licences at some stage in the future.