Bahrain, the smallest Gulf Arab economy, plans to invite a third mobile phone operator in 2009, said a report in London-based weekly, without giving a source.

The third mobile phone company would likely be a foreign investor, Middle East Economic Digest (Meed) said in its latest edition issued on Friday.

The new operator would compete with Bahrain Telecommunications Company (Batelco) and a firm linked with Kuwait's Mobile Telecommunications Company (Zain) in the country of of 1.05 million, it added.

States across the world's biggest oil-exporting region are opening up their telecom sectors as economic growth expands.

Qatar plans to sell its second fixed-line licence this year after awarding a group led by Vodafone Group its second mobile phone licence in December.

Saudi Arabia sold its third mobile phone licence to a group led by Zain last year for $6.11 billion.-Reuters