This new license would have a positive impact on the economic situation in the country and would improve the current situation of the cellular telephone sector which suffered systematic destruction as a result of terrorism and the economic blockade, the minister said during a press conference held in this capital.

It is intended, he explained, to recover the availability, coverage and services of the cellular network by 99 percent and reach the standards from before the war in 2011.

The project of the third operator was raised in 2009 but the outbreak of the war stopped it, and thanks to the victories of the army over terrorism, it was started from 2018 to prepare the file again, the holder specified.

He clarified that the State Telecommunications Company has 20 percent of the new operator while WAFA Telecom has 28 percent and other Syrian companies have 52 percent.

According to Ministry data, the number of mobile subscribers in Syria is approximately 16 million 225 thousand, divided into two companies, Syriatel and MTN, the former has 67 percent of the market and the latter 33 percent.

In order to facilitate competition from the new entity it was granted exclusivity to offer 5G Internet service for two years and allowed to make discount offers of up to 50 percent until its subscribers reach three million.

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