Third mobile network operator to be launched amid Iranian-Syrian understanding

Third mobile network operator to be launched amid Iranian-Syrian understanding

North-Press Agency

The implementation of a third mobile network operator agreement between the Syrian Public Corporation for Telecommunications and an Iranian company has begun. 

According to al-Sharq al-Awsat newspaper, the talks are underway in order to complete the project between an Iranian company backed by the Iranian military authorities (Revolutionary Guard) and the Syrian government.   

The newspaper has confirmed the start of the implementation of the agreement of a third mobile network operator. The agreement includes the acquisition of the Iranian company shares of both (Syria-Tel and MTN) companies, amid continuing negotiations to finalize the terms of the contract, and the shares to be returned to the official figures and businessmen in Damascus and Tehran, according to the newspaper.  

The agreement comes in conjunction with leaked information regarding the start of proceedings against “Syria-Tel” company which is owned by (Rami Makhlouf), the cousin of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, in order to transfer the largest share of the company to the Syrian government forces. 

While the Syrian Prime Minister, Imad Khamis had earlier made an understandings with the Iranian side on the start of the new company, in addition to understandings concerning phosphate investment for about 99 years, the establishment of an oil port and other understandings in the industrial and agricultural fields.

At the beginning of 2019, a joint committee meeting was held between the Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis and the Iranian Vice President Ishaq Jihangiri, where a total of 9 memorandums of understandings were signed in the fields of “railways, building houses, investment, combating the financing of terrorism and money laundering, as well as education and culture”.

The newspaper talked about a proposal of forming an Iranian-Syrian company under the condition of 40% of the company to be secured by the Iranian businessmen and the Syrian Martyrs Support Fund, while 20% by the Public Corporation for Telecommunications, while MCI company represents the Iranian side, which is a part of an organization that monopolizes telecommunications in Iran.