CAIRO: Raya Technology and Communication said on Sunday it is studying bidding for the second fixed-line license in the country through an alliance with an international operator, reported Reuters.Company Chairman Medhat Khalil told Reuters Raya was waiting for the announcement of the license conditions.”Many elements will determine if we are really going to take that step, for example if the license will include international calls or not, he said.Khalil denied press reports that his company had already agreed to an alliance with British Telecom.”We are talking to several international players but we have not concluded any agreements yet, he said.Minister of Communications Tarek Kamel said in late June Egypt would offer a license to operate a second fixed-line network during 2008, ending years of monopoly by state-dominated Telecom Egypt.Orascom Telecom, Etisalat Egypt, a unit of UAE-based Emirates Telecommunications Corp. and the Egyptian Post have all said they would bid for the license.The second fixed-line network, which would compete with that of Telecom Egypt, would start operating in early 2009.Raya, which operates in the mobile phone distribution, IT services and call centers businesses, posted a 13 percent rise in net profit in the first nine months of 2007 to LE 75.2 million ($13.57 million). — Agencies
Raya may bid for fixed-line license
