The Saudi telecoms regulator has extended the bidding deadline for a licence to operate as an MVNO using Zain Group’s (KSE: Zain) network from this month to 10 December.
The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) said in a statement that it had received a number of requests from stakeholders for an extension. It did not name interested parties.
The Saudi unit of the Kuwait-based Zain Group is the kingdom’s smallest mobile network operator behind the Saudi Telecommunication Company (STC) and Mobily.
Virgin Mobile became its first MVNO last September, riding on STC’s network. Lebara followed in December, using Mobily’s network.
Dubai’s Axiom Telecom had planned to launch MVNO services in Saudi Arabia on Zain’s network but, in April 2014, the regulator reportedly ordered the licence to be retendered.
Saudi Arabia is the second Gulf country to allow MVNOs after Oman, which granted a licence to Virgin Mobile in 2009.