Iran hands Tamin Telecom third mobile licence

Tamin Telecom has secured Iran’s third mobile licence, as well as the exclusive right to provide 3G services across the country for two years, according to the official IRNA news agency.

"The license was given on Saturday to (Tamin Telecom) along with its consortium, and we are hopeful its SIM cards will reach the market in the course of the current year," commented Iran’s communications minister Reza Taqipour.

This is not the first time Tamin has been awarded the title of third operator. Originally in January 2009 it was granted the concession as the local partner in a consortium with the UAE’s Etisalat for US$400 million, however, the licence was later revoked. Zain, the second placed bidder in the auction then entered negotiations in May, but when the Kuwaiti operator failed to comply with obligations, the licence was scrapped, with plans for a new tender to take place.

Neither the other parties in Tamin’s consortium, nor the price to be paid for the licence have been disclosed. Tamin is an affiliate of the Social Security Investment Company of Iran.

The Iranian market is currently served by state-owned Iran Telecommunications Company (TCI) and Irancell, which is 49 per cent owned by South Africa’s MTN Group.

It is estimated the nation has a mobile penetration rate of less than 60 per cent, and it is also the largest market in the Middle East with a population of 66.4 million.