Turkish cellco Turkcell has submitted a bid for a combined fixed line and 2G/3G mobile licence in Tunisia, in partnership with a number of local companies. In a statement to the Istanbul Stock Exchange, Turkcell confirmed that it hopes to become the country’s second wireline operator (to rival monopolist Tunisie Telecom) and third wireless network provider (in competition with Tunisie Telecom’s Tunicell and Orascom/Wataniya-owned Tunisiana).
Tunisia launched a tender for the concessions in December last year and has said it expects to pick the winner in the second quarter of 2009. Last month it was rumoured that India’s Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) was in discussions with Telecommunications Consultants of India Ltd (TCIL) over a possible joint bid for the Tunisian licence, but plans came to naught. It is not known if there were any other bids for the concession by the closing date of 5 May.