Third nationwide mobile operator winner not chosen by end September: deputy minister

“The third nationwide mobile operator was supposed to start two years after the second nationwide operator, but commencement of third operator by the end of September is quite far fetched,” the deputy Iranian telecommunication minister Vafa Ghaffarian told Mobna news agency.
Earlier it was announced that the winner will be picked September.
He said preliminary discussions with foreign companies to participate in the project has taken place but pointed out that until the documents concerning third nationwide operator tender are handed out they could not formally announce which foreign company intends to participate in the project.
The revision of all the documents regarding the third nationwide operator tender which incorporates recent views by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) experts are to be on the agenda of Radio Communication & Regulations Organization (RCRO), the ministrys regulatory body.
According to the authorities at telecommunication ministry the invitation for the third nationwide operator tender will be announced by the end of the current Iranian month (July 22).
The third nationwide mobile operator’s share of the market will be 15 million subscribers in 15 years.
This operator is required to provide services in 3G technology.
Already, some major operators from 15 countries have shown inclination to participate in the project.
Authorities in the telecom sector believe that a number of some countries in the Persian Gulf, Russia, India, Indonesia, China, UK, Malaysia and South Korea are more active to participate in the project.
Iranian officials have said that, third nationwide operator would require 3 billion dollars of foreign investment to kickoff the operation.
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