| Mobile operator MTN has delayed the launch of its network in Iran for the second time as it awaits regulatory approval. The company expects to start offering service soon, a company representative said on Friday.
Karel Pienaar, MTN’s Chief Technical Officer, said the company has made test calls in Iran but needs approval on its tariffs from the telecommunications regulator before it can carry out its commercial launch. He added that the launch, which was scheduled for the end of September, would take place soon and denied that the venture is too risky.
"We are good at moving into risky markets," he said.
MTN expects to sign up 1 million customers in Iran before the end of 2006.
"We have over 250 base stations live and 6,000 distribution points ready to go so we are really quite ready. The one hold-up is the tariff approval," Pienaar said.
MTN has said it expects 20% of Iran's 70 million people will be a mobile subscriber within two to three years, and that MTN will a attain a 30% market share. The company hopes to be EBITDA break even in Iran within a year.
MTN is second to Vodacom in South Africa, but is the largest mobile operator in sub-Saharan Africa and the second largest in Africa and the Middle East, behind Egypt's Orascom.
Source: Reuters - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News |