Iraq ditches wireless auction plans.(IRAQ)(Brief article)

Iraq plans to license the three national mobile-phone carriers--MTC Atheer, rascom, and Asia-Cell--in June under an arrangement calling for revenue-sharing and an upfront cash payment of at least US$250 million each, according to government and industry sources. The decision comes after Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, reacting to complaints over licensing uncertainty from the three cellcos, created a committee to address the matter. The panel included the Iraqi ministers of communications, finance, technology, and national security; the head of the National Communications an