The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Agency (RURA), which is responsible for ensuring a fair and transparent bidding process, named only seven companies who had officially bought into the bid for a 3rd fixed license: Vitel Holdings, Larrycom For Investment, Essar Telecom, Comium Group, CELTEL, Millicom, and Easymobile Communications LTD.
All of these firms were “invited” to bid, according to RURA, after they agency publicly announced an open tender for the position.
But another government source told FOCUS that, in an open bid like this one, extending invitations to preferred companies isn’t standard procedure. What’s more, a public tender should be broadly advertised in order to reach overseas investors, and bid documents should be accessible to everyone, he says.
“It’s in the public interest that the bid be transparent, so that you get the best competition,” the official says.
ITNewsAfrica
