Can you hear me now? Verizon wants Iraqi service

Verizon Communications Inc., Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS and Etihad Etisalat Co. are among companies interested in bidding for Iraq's fourth mobile phone license, the communications minister told Bloomberg News in an interview.

"There are three mobile licenses right now and the plan for a fourth license is currently being reviewed by the government," Farooq Abdulqader Abdulrahman said in an interview at a conference in Beirut. "We want to bring in an advanced company to partner with the national mobile company." The effort to beef up communications is part of the Iraqi government's effort to improve infrastructure in the war-torn country. Mobile services are quite bad and there is room for improvement, the minister said, adding that there are more than 15 to 16 million users of portable phones in the country.

"As soon as the government approves the fourth license, bids will be opened for all Arab and foreign companies," the minister said. "I expect to get the approval with the next three months."

Residents will be allowed to take part in the new company through shares, he said. The ministry will own the license and the winning bidder will be the operator of the service, he said, adding that the license won't be sold.

Many Iraqis subscribe to more than one service because coverage is inadequate in parts of the country, he said.

Verizon and other companies have made presentations on their potential bids and he expects the tender to be awarded within six months, the minister said.

-- Bloomberg News