Iraq will soon tender a fourth mobile phone operator licence in a bid to improve telecom services and bolster investment in the country, according to Hiam Al Yasiri, an adviser to Iraq's communications minister. As many as 15 firms, including US-based Verizon Communications, South Africa's MTN, Turkcell and the UAE's Etisalat, have expressed an interest since the cabinet initially approved a plan for a fourth operator in July last year, reports Gulf Daily News, citing Al Yasiri. Final cabinet approval was received on 18 April. The fourth firm, which would be selected through an open tender and operate throughout Iraq, would give 35 percent of its operating revenue to the government as part of the deal, according to the advisor. Yasiri said they believe that the service from the current operators will not improve, at least in the near future. The mobile customer base of the country's main operators, Zain and AsiaCell, stands at over 10 million, versus 3 million two years ago. Zain and AsiaCell, along with regional mobile operator Korek, based in the Kurdish north, each paid USD 1.25 billion for their 15-year licences in 2007. The Iraqi government has strongly criticised the companies' patchy coverage and imposed fines. Zain has rejected the criticism as unfair and blamed reception problems on military signal jamming. France Telecom recently said it was looking at entering the Iraqi market.
