Third generation mobile telephony: Bids of 3 operators opened

The Regulation Authority of Post and Telecommunications (ARPT) has opened Sunday in Algiers the bids of the three mobile operators, operating in Algeria for the exploitation of third generation (3G+) public mobile telecommunication networks. The files containing the bids submitted by the three mobile operators, Algerie Telecom mobile (ATM, Mobilis), Watanya telecoms Algérie (WTA, Nedjma) and Orascom Telecom Algerie (OTA, Djezzy), have been accepted in the form after being examined publicly by the Commission assigned by ARPT. The review of the files’ substance will be conducted by ARPT Commission while the final results are expected to be released on 15 October 2013, Salah Mahgoune, Head of the Commission said. "Next 15 October, we will declare the provisional beneficiaries of authorization, then there will be further modalities such as the payment to obtaining definitively licenses," Mahgoune added. The third generation mobile telephony will be marketed as from 1st December. The ceremony took place in the ARPT headquarters in the presence of Minister of Post and Information and Communication Technologies Zohra Derdouri, and the top officials of the three operators.