Supported by Arthur D. Little, Saudi telecoms regulator receives 19 applications from European, Asian and Gulf operators for fixed and mobile licenses

The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) - the telecommunications regulator in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which had appointed Arthur D. Little as its adviser for the liberalisation process last year, has received an overwhelming response from European, Asian and Gulf telecom service providers for its Request for Applications (RFA) to award third mobile license and new fixed license(s).

In response to the Request for Applications published by CITC in October 2006, CITC received ten applications for fixed-line services license on Saturday, 10th March 2007. Last month it received nine applications for mobile services license. Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) the 2nd mobile operator is one of the applicants for the fixed-line services license. A consortium led by UAE incumbent Etisalat owns majority stake in Mobily. Other participants from the Middle East are Orascom (Egypt), MTC (Kuwait) for the mobile license and Qtel (Qatar), Batelco (Bahrain) for the fixed license. MTNL from India has applied for both fixed and mobile licenses

Arthur D. Little has been working closely with CITC for over a year to assist develop the regulatory framework, licensing policies and processes and related RFA's for the fixed-line and mobile services licenses.

Arthur D. Little has a long track record of supporting companies in the Middle East. Arthur D. Little has the distinction of having taken the lead to facilitate setting up of the telecommunications system in Saudi Arabia.

Thomas Kuruvilla, Managing Director of Arthur D Little in the Middle East added: "The regulatory framework was updated to ensure that consumers benefit from the technological changes and a level playing field for the new licensee. The new licenses will encourage additional investment in the fixed local access infrastructure, catalyse the mobile market growth, and accommodate future trends in convergence. The encouraging response to the licensing process is a testimony of the market potential; we are pleased to have a well entrenched position not only in Saudi Arabia but also across the Middle East."

"The encouraging response is the result of an extensive and elaborate series of public consultations carried out throughout the licensing process, which not only generated substantial awareness of the new licenses but allowed potential bidders to clarify their doubts and to increase understanding of the potential of the telecommunications market in Saudi Arabia"