Saudi Arabia’s telecoms regulator has extended the deadline for bids for a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) licence that will enable the holder to offer services using Zain’s infrastructure.
The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) recently published a statement confirming that interested parties have until 10 December to submit their applications for an MVNO licence.
The regulator had previously set a mid-August deadline for receipt of applications, but chose to extend it "following a number of requests from stakeholders," it explained.
MVNOs are still relatively new in Saudi Arabia.
Virgin Mobile became the country’s first virtual player in September last year when it launched services on Saudi Telecom Company’s (STC’s) network. Lebara was next to come to market in December; its service uses Mobily’s network.
The country also planned to issue a third licence for an MVNO on Zain’s network, shortlisting devices retailer Axiom Telecom. However, the process became mired in red tape and the licence was never formally granted to Axiom, and in April 2014 the CITC re-opened the tender.
Since then it has delayed the process a number of times.
In its most recent statement on the subject the CITC did not mention Axiom nor any other possible applicant by name.
