MTC amongst frontrunners for second Qatar mobile licence

Kuwait’s Mobile Telecommunications Company (MTC Group) may bid for Qatar’s second mobile network operator licence, according to a report by Reuters. The licence tender launched in April has attracted interest from more than 20 regional and international companies, according to the Supreme Council of Information and Communication Technology (ictQATAR), which reported last month that companies from Europe, Asia and the Middle East had expressed an interest. Indian telcos Reliance Communications, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) and Bharti Airtel are reportedly amongst those likely to bid. Pre-qualified companies will be invited to submit technical and commercial offers by July, and the licence is expected to be awarded in November, ending the monopoly of Qatar Telecom.