Telecoms news from Syria

Syria Cuts Off Internet Access

Two U.S.-based Internet-monitoring companies say Syria's government has shut down the Internet across the country. ...more.

MTN Group Grows Subscriber Base to Nearly 183 Million

South Africa's MTN Group has delivered what it called a "satisfactory set of results" for the quarter ended 30 September 2012, increasing subscriber numbers by 3.8% to 182.7 million. ...more.

Ericsson Closes Syrian Office Over Fears for Staff Safety

Ericsson has closed its office in Damascus, the capital of Syria due to the ongoing civil war in the country. ...more.

Syria Issues a Ban on the Apple iPhone

The Syrian government has reportedly banned the use of the Apple iPhone within the country, and put a ban on imports of the smartphone. ...more.

US Government Imposes Sanctions on Syrian Mobile Network

The US government's Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on Syriatel, the largest mobile phone operator in Syria following allegations of human rights abuses by the Syrian government. ...more.

Etisalat May Reconsider Syrian Mobile License Bid

UAE based Etisalat has stated that it might reconsider bidding for Syria's third mobile license, but only if the terms of the tender are changed. The company withdrew from bidding for the license earlier this year. ...more.

Syria Postpones 3rd Phone License Due to Political Unrest

The Syrian government has delayed next week's planned auction of the country's third mobile operator license due to the ongoing political turmoil in the country. ...more.

Qatar Telecom Confirms Interest in Syrian Mobile Network License

Qatar Telecom (Qtel) has confirmed that it will bid for the country's third mobile operator license, despite the ongoing political turmoil in the country from democracy activists ...more.

Syria Sets Minimum Bid Price for Country's 3rd Mobile Operator License

Syria's forthcoming auction for the country's third mobile network license is set to have a minimum reserve price of EUR90 million (US$122 million), ...more.

Syrian 3rd Mobile License Auction Next April

Syria's third mobile license will be awarded next April, with an action on April 11th, the local Al Watan newspaper reported, ...more.

Five Companies Shortlisted for Syrian Mobile License

Five out of the six original bidders have been qualified to bid in Syria's forthcoming tender for the country's third mobile operator license. ...more.

Six Companies Bid for Syria's 3rd Mobile License

Syria's Ministry of Communications and Technology has announced that six companies have submitted bids for the country's third mobile network operator license. ...more.

Syria Confirms Details for 3rd Mobile License Tender

As previously reported, the Syrian government has now outlined the tender details for the country's third mobile operator licenses. ...more.

Text messaging helps thousands of Iraqi refugees in Syria receive UN food aid

Tens of thousands of Iraqi refugees in Syria will now be able to receive food aid by exchanging coupons sent to their mobile telephones as the first such electronic food voucher system in the world moves beyond its pilot phase to embrace those living outside Damascus, ...more.

Syrian Operators to Pay $500 Million for License Conversions

Syria's two incumbent mobile networks, Syriatel and MTN-Syria will be asked to pay SYP 25 billion (US$500 million) to convert their existing Built-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreements into conventional licenses, ...more.

Syria to Issue a Third Mobile License

The Syrian government has approved plans to issue the country's third mobile operator license, and will also convert the two existing networks into stand alone networks. ...more.

Etisalat Confirms Interest in Syria and Iraqi Operator Licenses

Etisalat's Chairman, Mohammad Omran has confirmed that the company is interested in bidding for licenses in Syria and Iraq when they are offered. ...more.

Zain Reported to be Seeking Syrian Investment

Kuwait's Zain is reported to be interested in investing in the Syrian mobile market, either through an acquisition of an operator license, or a stake in an existing operator. ...more.

Mobile Phone Based Food Vouchers Trialled for Iraqi Refugees in Syria

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has launched an electronic food voucher pilot project -- the first of its kind in the world to use mobile phone technology -- to aid 1,000 Iraqi refugee families in Syria. ...more.

Mobile Phones Boycotted in Syria

Mobile phone subscribers in Syria carried out a boycott of the networks yesterday in an organised protest over high charges by the country's two network operators, Syriatel and MTN Syria. ...more.