Iraq extends deadline for mobile licence
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Iraq extends deadline for mobile licence

Iraqi officials have extended the deadline for companies to apply for participation in bidding for its fourth mobile licence to next month, according to local reports.

The Communications and Media Commission (CMC) in Iraq invited companies to apply for the licence earlier this month, giving them until November 20 to submit their interest.

This has now been pushed back to December 10 but no reasons have yet been given as to why.

Industry sources told Reuters that a fourth licence will be a tough sell.

The competition is open to international mobile operators but existing national players – Asiacell, Zain Iraq and Korek – have seen their profits fall due to higher costs, increased domestic competition and service interruptions from Islamic State’s territorial gains.

Last month, newcomer to the market Newroz Telecom claimed to have deployed an IP network that links the Kurdistan region of Northern Iraq to Southern Iraq, bypassing Islamic State-affected Mosul Dam.

 

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