KAPP invites SOQ for fixed telecom network project

KUWAIT: The Kuwait Authority for Partnership Projects (KAPP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications (MoC), invites local and international companies, excluding entities licensed by CITRA or their affiliates, to submit statements of qualification (SOQ) for the fixed telecommunications network development project (the Project).

The fixed telecommunications network development project aims to establish a public-private partnership to design, finance, build, operate, maintain, and transfer Kuwait’s nationwide, high-speed fiber broadband network. As such, the relevant project company (the Project Company) will operate and improve the current MoC fixed telecommunications network and roll out the fiber network in areas not yet covered.

The Project Company will be entitled to the usage and exploitation rights of MoC’s active infrastructure (eg, XPON, NGN) and passive infrastructure (eg, ducts, central offices, dark fiber) during the 50 years term of the public-private partnership agreement to be entered into between the Project Company and the MoC in respect of the project (PPP agreement). The Project Company will upgrade and enhance the fiber network in areas covered and roll-out fiber network in areas not yet covered within five years from the date of the PPP agreement to achieve 90 percent coverage of households and businesses.

The authority said in a statement to KUNA that this call is in line with the government’s orientation towards activating the public-private partnership program in accordance with the provisions of Law No 116 of 2014 on partnership between the two sectors, its executive regulations and in cooperation with the ministry of Transportation.