Vodafone wins Qatar operating license

Vodafone has won the right to operate a fixed-line telecoms service in gas rich Qatar.

It is only the second fixed-line license to be granted by the Middle Eastern state’s telecoms regulator, ICT Qatar.

Vodafone won the license leading the same consortium of companies that in December won a license to compete with Qatar’s monopoly mobile operator, Q-Tel.

The consortium paid $2.12 billion for the mobile license, outbidding ATT, Verizon, Batelco, Eutelia, Jordan Telecom, BT, and PCCW. The cost of the fixed-line license was not revealed.

A statement from ICT Qatar confirmed that its board awarded the license to the Vodafone and Qatar Foundation consortium, allowing it to compete with Q-Tel for both mobile and fixed-line customers.

At least 40% of the new company’s shares will be available for public subscription from 30th November, with services to be launched in 2009.