Six bidders short-listed for Oman’s second fixed-line licence

Oman’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) has announced that six international telecoms operators and consortia have been short-listed for the sultanate’s second fixed-line licence. Ten parties had expressed interest in the licence by the August 25 deadline for submissions of interest.

Oman’s second fixed-line licence will be awarded by late October.

The identities of the six bidders have not been disclosed.

The Class 1 fixed-line licence is being offered as a 25-year build-and-operate contract, with a similar 15-year contract for the provision of broadband services.

A TRA official earlier stated that the successful bidder would have to pay seven per cent of gross revenues to the government as royalty and an upfront fee of OMR500,000 (US$1.3 million) upon selection.

The auction process is expected to be completed by late October, ending the fixed-line monopoly currently held by Omantel.