Axiom’s Saudi MVNO licence cancelled and set to be re-tendered

The Communications and Information Technology Commission of Saudi Arabia (CITC), is to issue a fresh tender for the country’s third MVNO licence after apparently cancelling the one granted to Axiom Telecom last year.

Axiom Telecom had a provisional licence to offer services over the Zain network, but in the middle of March this year when Virgin Mobile Middle East & Africa (VMMEA) and Jawraa Lebara were formally granted their licences, no such award was made to Axiom Telecom.

Axiom is reported to have said that it had been unable to submit a specific document in time before the regulator cancelled its licence, but would be bidding again in the new tender process.

VMMEA and Jawraa Lebara are looking to launch services in the coming couple of months, with VMMEA utilising capacity from Saudi Telecom, and Jawraa Lebara from Mobily.

Comm. previously reported that Axiom Telecom had not been officially granted its licence in March due to the consortium having faced issues with its shareholder structure.