The Syrian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has announced the launch of an international tender for a new 20-year mobile network operator license, set to replace the current “MTN Syria” license.
The announcement was made during the Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, according to state media, with the competition open to qualified international operators.
Submission Deadline
The ministry set May 2, 2026, as the final deadline for submitting bids, with the licensing process expected to conclude by June 15, 2026.
According to the ministry, the process will take place in two stages: a qualification phase, followed by a financial selection phase to award the contract to the winning bidder.
Communications Minister Abdulsalam Haykal said on the platform X that the launch of the competition came after months of negotiations with the global MTN Group regarding its “amicable and orderly” exit from the Syrian market. He added that preparations had also been made for a new regulatory, commercial, and investment framework for the upcoming license.
Jihad Salkini, head of the US-Syria Business Council (USSYBC), who was part of the auction announcement in Barcelona, said the process is targeting a Tier-1 operator with more than 60 million subscribers.
Salkini expected the total cost of the license and network investment to exceed 1 billion US dollars.
Gradual Transition and Service Continuity
The ministry stated that the new license will replace “MTN Syria,” while maintaining two operators in the market for five years during a transitional phase.
It confirmed that MTN will continue providing services to its subscribers until their transfer to the new operator is completed, ensuring uninterrupted service.
5G Spectrum Package
The license includes spectrum allocation in the 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2600, and 3500 MHz bands, in addition to incorporating the 6 GHz band into the roadmap.
According to the ministry, this will enable the rollout of 5G technology and the development of mobile broadband services. A plan is also being prepared to gradually phase out 2G and 3G networks and refarm the freed spectrum for 4G and 5G services.
25 Percent Stake for Sovereign Fund
The ministry revealed that the new company will include a 25 percent stake for the Syrian sovereign fund, with the remaining shares to be held by the winning operator and its consortium. Current Syrian operators will be excluded from bidding.
Linked to Regional Digital Vision
The ministry linked the new license to the “SilkLink” initiative, a regional fiber-optic project backed by Saudi Arabia’s STC, aimed at expanding international transit capacity and strengthening Syria’s position as a regional digital corridor.
It said the new license and the SilkLink project represent two pillars of a long-term digital infrastructure strategy, part of a broader plan to modernize the telecommunications sector, improve service quality, and expand nationwide coverage.
Previous Announcement of MTN Withdrawal
South Africa’s MTN Group had previously announced in 2021 its intention to exit the Syrian market, citing challenges related to judicial guardianship imposed by the former Assad regime.
According to Reuters on August 12, 2021, MTN CEO Ralph Mupita said the company needed to exit war-torn Syria “with immediate effect,” noting that it had already developed a medium-term plan to withdraw from the region as part of its broader strategy.
He added that regulatory measures and license fee payment requests had made continued operations in Syria “untenable,” accelerating the decision to leave the market.
Auction for MTN Replacement in Syria with Investments Exceeding $1 Billion Enab Baladi.
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