Lebanese government plans privatisation windfall

According to local newspaper the Daily Star, the Lebanese government is expecting to earn up to USD6 billion from the privatisation of the country’s existing mobile operators, Alfa (Cellis) and MTC Touch Lebanon. The cellcos, currently managed by DeTeCon and MTC respectively, are to be sold by February 2007. However, the government has not yet decided if it will go for a full flotation or if it will sell them whole to private investors. An unnamed source told the newspaper that ‘the government believes it can get very good prices for the two mobile licences, especially after the USD2.9 billion acquisition of Egypt’s third cellular licence.’