Qatar Telecommunications Company (Qtel) and Kuwait's Noor Financial Investment have bid for Oman's second fixed-line licence, said a magazine report.

Oman's telecoms regulator declined to name the other bidders, according to MEED.

Nasser al-Merri, Noor's deputy chairman, told MEED that if the firm wins, the licence would be operated by its Noortel subsidiary. The magazine did not give further details.

Oman said last month it shortlisted six bidders seeking the licence for the Gulf country's second fixed-line telecommunications network, that would break the monopoly of state-run Oman Telecommunications Company.

Oman, which already has two mobile telephone operators and is also selling a stake in Omantel, is liberalising the telecoms sector as part of efforts to encourage foreign investment as its oil production dries up.-Reuters