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By Matt Smith
DUBAI, Aug 20 (Reuters) - Vodafone Group hasscrapped its interest in obtaining a management contract to runone of Lebanon's two state-owned mobile operators, the UK-basedcompany said on Thursday.
Vodafone's withdrawal, which the company revealed in anemailed response to questions from Reuters, is a blow toLebanon's telecoms ministry, which has been seeking long-termagreements to manage the two operators for more than two years.
Kuwait's Zain, in charge since 2004 of the biggestoperator, Touch, and Orascom Telecom Media and Technology (OTMT), which has managed Alfa since 2009, have beenrunning the firms on short-term rolling contracts since alonger-term deal expired in 2013.
The ministry said it would launch a tender for new three- tofive-year agreements in April 2013, but this was delayed due toLebanon's struggles to form a cohesive government.
It eventually invited bids earlier this year. Sixinternational companies made offers, Beirut-based Daily Starreported this month.
These were Zain, Vodafone, France's Orange,Malaysia's Maxis, Turkey's Turkcell and asubsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, the paper said.
But Vodafone has now quit the race.
"Vodafone has decided not to pursue the opportunity in theLebanon, but we have no further comment to make beyond this,"the company said via email.
Meanwhile OTMT failed to submit an application on time, theStar said.
Lebanon's presidency has been vacant for more than a year,and the parliament elected in 2009 has extended its own term andpostponed elections until 2017 on the grounds of instability. (Reporting by Matt Smith; Editing by Greg Mahlich)
