The network-sharing deal left out the country's third operator Vodafone.

Qtel said the regulator had ruled that Virgin would not be a third operator.

Only one contender (Mobilkom Austria) entered a bid for Macedonia's third operator cellular network licence.

The ruling asked for changes in Virgin Mobile's launch by Qtel, but said that Virgin would not be a third operator.

Mobily does not directly hold a comprehensive fixed line licence, while loss-making third operator Zain Saudi has struggled to take much of a foothold.