RIYADH (WiMAX Day). Following the successful bid by the Atheeb/Batelco consortium for one of the three new fixed line telecom licenses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Batelco announced its intention to roll-out Internet, voice and data services using WiMAX, if it receives a license for WiMAX spectrum.

The Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) opened the financial bids for spectrum on Saturday, which was the first step in the process toward awarding spectrum. The spectrum presently available for licensing includes 2500 ~ 2686 Mhz and 3500 ~ 3600 Mhz.

The AI-Mutakamilah Consortium (which includes PCCW of Hong Kong) also submitted a bid for spectrum licenses, however the Optical Communication Company Consortium (which includes MCI International and Verizon USA) did not submit a bid for spectrum.