In November 2008, the Tunisian Ministry of Communication Technologies released an RFP for a technology-neutral global license to be awarded in June 2009. The winner will be allowed to provide both fixed and mobile voice and data services, using its choice of 2G, 3G, CDMA or WiMAX technologies. The most striking feature of the terms of the license is the exclusivity rights they give to the winning consortium: It will enjoy five years of exclusivity on fixed services and a full year as the only mobile operator allowed to offer 3G services. The license also permits the market entrant to offer Internet services directly to subscribers, despite current regulations requiring operators to sell Internet services only indirectly through ISPs.
The RFP is open to operators that do not currently operate a mobile license in Tunisia, and have owned their telecommunications infrastructure and operated a fixed or mobile license for at least two years. The RFP also allows operators holding a VSAT (very small aperture terminal) license in Tunisia for at least two years to bid for the license. The proposals will be evaluated on the basis of technical as well as financial merits. We believe that this license will trigger a paradigm shift in the Tunisian telecom market by simultaneously introducing competition in the broadband sector and 3G services in the mobile sector, leading to 322% growth of mobile data revenue between 2008 and 2013.
