Talks on Iraq mobile licences (15/07/05)

The contest to run Iraq's mobile phone networks will move to London next week. Iraq's communications commission is holding a conference as part of the awarding of licences.

Iraq's administration said last month it would auction new mobile phone licences in July - five months before the licences held by the three existing operators expire.

The conference is being hosted by Iraq's national communication and media commission as part of the consultation underpinning the award of the new licences.

The Egyptian operator Orascom has the licence for central Iraq with Atheer, part of Kuwait's MTC, in the south and Asiacell, made up of a number of Arab firms, holding the licence in the north.

Their two-year licences were awarded by the original US-led coalition authority.

Richard Wray

Source: The Guardian