PCCW-Awaser loses out as licence goes to Nawras

Oman’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has declared domestic wireless operator Nawras – 70% owned by Qatar Telecom (Qtel) – as the winner of the country’s second fixed line licence. At the end of October PCCW-Awaser Oman Consortium, a joint venture between Hong Kong-based telco PCCW and a local partner, announced that it was the highest bidder bidder for the concession, but according to a statement made by Nawras, ‘the PCCW-Awaser Oman Consortium could not fulfil certain obligations, thus the licence is now being given to Nawras’. No further details were announced by the TRA.