Damascus Denies Issuing License to New Mobile Operator

Arab World

June 1st, 5:53am

Damascus – Asharq Al-Awsat

People walk past the looted premises of cellphone company Syriatel, which is owned by Rami Makhlouf, the cousin of president Bashar al-Assad, in Daraa March 21, 2011. (Reuters)

The Syrian Ministry of Communication and Technology denied on Monday granting a license to a third mobile operator in the country. Director-General of Communications Regulatory Authority for Post and Communications Manhal Gunaidi clarified that announcing the entry of a third operator is made exclusively by the Ministry and Authority. The Ministry will make the announcement once the final license is granted, Gunaidi said, adding that one of the conditions is that Syrian Telecom must be a partner to the operator. A photo circulated on Sunday claiming the Ministry of Internal Trade and Consumer Protection had approved the operation of a new company, Wafa Telecom. The approval dates back to 2020 and was published in the Gazette but it does not bear the signature or seal of the Ministry. According to the decision, the new company consists of seven firms operating in Syria and their headquarters are in Damascus. Syriatel and MTN have been Syria’s sole telecom operators since 2000. They have been in a dispute with the Ministry of Communication and Technology over unpaid dues worth 233 billion Syrian pounds. Syriatel, which is owned by president Bashar al-Assad’s cousin Rami Mkahlouf, has refused to pay, leading to a dramatic public spat between them. MTN announced that it will meet its dues, but has yet to make a payment.

from Asharq AL-awsat https://english.aawsat.com/home/article/3002846/damascus-denies-issuing-license-new-mobile-operator