CMC launches mobile tender

The Iraqi Communications and Media Commission (CMC) has launched a tender process to award up to four 15-year national mobile telecoms licences. Interested parties must undergo a prequalification stage and are required to submit confidentiality agreements to the regulator by 30 March. The CMC said it expects to award the licences before the country’s current regional concessions expire on 30 June. There are currently four mobile operators in Iraq – Asia-Cell, MTC Atheer, Orascom Telecom Iraq (Iraqna) and Sana Tel which between them claimed over 3.5 million customers at the end of 2005.