Platinum numbers auction makes $1.9 million

Proceeds from public auctions held by Alfa and MTC to go to network upgrading

Alfa Telecom announced that a public auction of 45 Alfa platinum numbers generated a total of $1.082 million. A similar auction of 47 MTC platinum numbers generated a total of $ 0.84 million, according to MTC Touch.

Statements issued by the two mobile network operators said that the proceeds from the auctions will be transferred to the Ministry of Telecommunications, which will use the funds to upgrade the cellular phone network.

The Mobile Interim Company (Alfa), established in 2002, is managed by Egypt's Orascom Telecom Holding.

MTC Touch, established in 2004 as Mobile Telecommunication Company Lebanon, is a subsidiary of Kuwait’s Zain Group.