Egypt will tender a third mobile license in the second half of September, Communications Minister Tarek Kamel said. Kamel said the network would commence operations in late 2006 or early 2007.

"Establishing such a company will reinforce the competition in the Egyptian mobile market," Kamel said.

The third network will compete with Vodafone Egypt and Mobinil, a subsidiary of Orascom Telecom. Vodafone and Mobinil have had a duopoly in the Egyptian mobile market for a number of years.

Source: Reuters, WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News