Iraq hopes to hold international tenders for two to five national mobile phone licences by the end of this year to replace the country's three expiring licences, the head of Iraq's communications watchdog told a London news conference on Thursday.
Siyamend Othman, the chief executive of the country's NCMC (National Communications and Media Commission) regulator, said the new licences might last for 15 years with a possible extension of five years.
Othman, in London for a two-day consultation with international telecoms industry representatives about a planned licence auction, said nothing was yet cast in stone.
He emphasised the importance of a transparent and fair auction process.
The new licences will replace three others issued by the US-led occupation authority in 2003.