MVNOs to be licensed in Saudi in 2012

Saudi Arabia will issue three mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) licences in 2012, the country’s telecom regulator told Reuters.

A spokesman for the Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) confirmed the regulator would sell the MVNO licences next year, but did not provide more details.

The regulator’s move to allow MVNOs instead of granting a fourth telecom licence is a sign Saudi operators are moving towards competing on service rather than focussing on building their own infrastructure.