Third operator tender likely to be held again: RCRO official

“Third mobile phone operator tenders legal stages are being done. Third operator fate will be determined by next 10 days,” Mohammad Reza Farnaghizadeh told Irans mobile news agency (MOBNA).
“Omantel and Zain propositions to participate in third operator tender are not forbidden and according to tender law their presence in third operator will be studied,” he said.
“Attending Etisalat consortium in third operator project has been cancelled and the probability of its return is very weak” he insisted.
Zain-Iran consortium compromises of Iranian retired teachers fund and retired Iranian radio and television fund and Kuwaiti operator Zain. They ranked second in third operator tender after Etisalat. Also Omantel ranked third after Etisalat and Zain in third operator tender.
Telecommunication minister had announced dismissing Etisalat from third operator project because is did not perform its commitments.
The operator was selected as third operator winner on 12 January 2009.
Tamin-Etisalat consortium compromises of Iranian company Tamin Telecom affiliated to Social Security investment company and Emirates operator Etisalat which was selected as Iran third mobile phone operator tender winner on 12 January 2009.
It was planned the operator to pay 160,000 trillion rials to government during 15 years and to attract 17 million subscribers.
113/16