Auction for third licence in Syria set to take place April 11

Syria’s third mobile licence is set to be awarded next April, with an auction taking place on April 11, according to Syrian media reports, citing an executive from Detecon consultancy firm, which is acting as an advisor on the deal.

Syria will also announce the establishment of an independent telecom regulator before the licence auction commences, Imad Sabouni, the Syrian communications and technology minister said.

Etisalat, France Telecom, Qtel, Turkcell, and Saudi Telecom are pre-qualified for the licence auction.

Syria was estimated to have had just over 9.1 million mobile subscribers at the end of March 2010, representing a penetration rate of 44 per cent.

The two incumbent operators are set to have to buy out their current BOT agreements and convert to conventional licence agreements. The buyout price has been previously reported as being around US$500 million.