Syria launches tender for new mobile operator licence to replace MTN as exit agreed

JOHANNESBURG: Syria has launched an international tender for a new mobile network operator licence to replace MTN Syria, the ministry of communications and information technology said on Wednesday.

The new licence paves the way for the formal exit of South Africa’s MTN Group after the mobile operator abandoned its operations in ‌Syria in ⁠2021. ⁠MTN owns 75% of MTN Syria.

The ministry formally opened a competitive bidding process that will run until June 15 at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.