The government has called for expressions of interest by 2 October from operators wishing to participate in the privatisation of state telecoms company Mauritel (see Tenders). The sale of a 51 per cent stake in the company is scheduled for next year; the tender is expected to be launched this December. The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has been appointed adviser for the sale.Mauritel has about 17,000 fixed lines, and a capacity for some 32,000. The company has been granted a licence for a cellular network which will be operational in November.Analysts say that cellular demand is expected to reach about 100,000 by 2010. In June, Tunisian state operator Tunisie Telecom beat off competition from, among others, France Telecom, Telefonica of Spain and Portugal Telecom International to win Mauritania's second cellular licence worth around $28 million (MEED 2:6:00).