Qatar Telecom Says Unit Awarded 3G, Fixed-Line Licenses In Tunisia

Monday, May 07, 2012

(This item was originally published Sunday.)

DUBAI (Zawya Dow Jones)--Qatar Telecom (QTEL.DO), or Qtel, the Arab Gulf's state largest telco, said Sunday its unit Tunisiana has been awarded licenses to launch and operate third-generation, or 3G, mobile communication and fixed-line networks in Tunisia.

Tunisiana currently offers mobile services in the country, according to Zawya.com.

The additional licences were purchased for a combined consideration of 205 million Tunisian dinars ($135 million), Qtel said in an emailed statement. The 3G network will be launched in July 2012, and fixed-line services at the beginning of 2013, it added.

Last June Qtel raised its stake in Tunisiana to 75%, after acquiring the north African operator in November 2010.

Qtel shares closed 0.7% lower at QAR138.10 Sunday.

-By Shereen El Gazzar, Dow Jones Newswires; +971 444 61684; Shereen.elgazzar@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

07-05-12 0346GMT