Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communications have been shortlisted by the Qatar government for the second mobile phone licence in the country. Other companies including Kuwait-based Mobile Telecommunications Company, Emirates Telecommunications, Egypt-based Orascom Telecom, Vodafone AT&T and Verizon Communications have also been shortlisted. The licence will be awarded by October 2007. The Qatar government has also invited global bids for a second fixed line licence.