Indian cos lose Kenya telecom bid
The Africian Safari did not take off for Indian service providers MTNL and Reliance, with both companies failing to to win the battle for the second national operator’s (SNO) licence in Kenya.
By Joji Thomas Philip, TNN |
NEW DELHI: The Africian Safari did not take off for Indian service providers MTNL and Reliance, with both companies failing to to win the battle for the second national operator’s (SNO) licence in Kenya, when the financial bids for the same were opened on Friday. The Indian service providers were pipped by Dubai-based Vtel, the only other contender in the race for the SNO licence.
While MTNL was bidding independently for the licence, Reliance had formed a consortium with Sweden-based Swedtel. For Reliance, this is the second setback in Africa. Earlier, this year, its bid for a cellular licence in Africa was disqualified on technical grounds. “Vtel’s bid was much higher than ours and Reliance’s — both Indian companies have lost the race,” a senior MTNL executive told ET.
Vtel will now be offered one licence for all services — cellular, internet backbone, international voice gateway, commercial VSAT and national and international long-distance services. Kenya will issue the SNO licence to the successful bidder on January 30 next year.
While MTNL was bidding independently for the licence, Reliance had formed a consortium with Sweden-based Swedtel. For Reliance, this is the second setback in Africa. Earlier, this year, its bid for a cellular licence in Africa was disqualified on technical grounds. “Vtel’s bid was much higher than ours and Reliance’s — both Indian companies have lost the race,” a senior MTNL executive told ET.
Vtel will now be offered one licence for all services — cellular, internet backbone, international voice gateway, commercial VSAT and national and international long-distance services. Kenya will issue the SNO licence to the successful bidder on January 30 next year.
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