bankers: Qtel eyes $1 billion loan

State-owned operator Qatar Telecom (Qtel) has sent out requests for proposals (RFPs) to banks for a syndicated loan of up to $1 billion, bankers said. The loan will be used for general corporate purposes, including refinancing, the bankers said.The request is for a financing with three, four and five year maturities and includes conventional and Islamic Murabaha financing options, the bankers said. Qtel last tapped the loan market in May 2010 for a $2 billion syndicated loan via arranging banks BNP Paribas, DBS, Qatar National Bank, Societe Generale and Royal Bank of Scotland.