Syria's deputy minister of communications and technology Muhammad Aljalali has announced that the country's third mobile licence is set to be auctioned in April 2011, Meed has reported. Between five to 10 companies have put in a bid, the majority from local operators, he said. Saudi Arabia's STC, Qatar's Qtel, Kuwait's Zain and Turkey's Turkcell have all expressed an interest in the third licence. The deadline for the prequalification phase is November 14.