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Vodacom`s about-turn on Iran

Carel Alberts
By Carel Alberts, ITWeb contributor
Johannesburg, 16 Jan 2004

Vodacom has done an about-turn on plans to invest in Iran, after being shortlisted along with MTN and four others for the second cellular licence in that country.

"Notwithstanding its previous interest...Vodacom has decided not to participate in the Iranian cellular market," says Alan Knott-Craig, Vodacom`s CEO.

According to Reuters, Vodafone, a 35% shareholder in Vodacom, had some days ago not yet given its permission to the operator to invest in Iran.

The remaining five bidders (Austria`s Mobilkom, Egypt`s Orascom Telecom, Deutsche Telekom and Turkey`s Turkcell, according to the news agency) are expected to submit business plans by 9 February. The winning bid will be announced on 23 February.

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