The company’s chairman said yesterday that an entrance into Libya would mark Zain’s return into international markets, after it sold its assets in 15 African countries to Airtel in 2010.
“We have a study for Libya, we are considering the Libya market at the moment,” Zain chairman Asaad Ahmed al-Banwan told local reports outside its shareholder meeting.
State owned operator Libyan Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology (LIPTIC) owns two mobile operators, Al Madar and Libyana and the country’s main internet service provider.
The telecoms sector has remained largely monopolised and isolated during Muammar Gaddafi’s 42-year rule.
Since Gaddafi’s fall, there were rumours that LIPTIC would be privatised and the market would be opened up to new competition, but a reported tender has been put on hold.
