Reuters is reporting that Tunisia will launch an international tender for a fixed line telecoms licence, part of a drive to boost inward investment and quicken economic growth. ‘The project of a second fixed-line phone concession will be accelerated, to be finalised as soon as possible,’ local daily Le Quotidien was cited as saying. ‘A team charged with this project in the telecoms ministry is preparing an international tender … to select a second fixed-line phone operator,’ it added, without giving further details.
State-controlled Tunisie Telecom currently has a monopoly on the provision of fixed-line services. Dubai’s Tecom bought a 35% stake in the company in March 2006, paying TND3.05 billion (USD2.27 billion) for the holding, beating Vivendi’s rival offer of TND2.76 billion.