13 August 2007
Cotonou — BENIN Republic has awarded Nigeria's second national telecoms carrier, Globacom, a licence to provide GSM services there. The company came top in a bid that pitched it against competitors from Libya and several other African countries.
Reports from Cotonou said Globacom won the bid on the strength of its technical superiority, and its ability to roll out within three months.
Benin Republic had recently suspended the licences of two GSM operators in the country, MTN and Atlantique Telecom, which is controlled by Emirates Telecommunications, over dispute on regulatory fees. The suspension of the licences prompted the government to hold a new round of bidding to award one more GSM licence with a view to improving telecom services in the country.
Globacom officials said the granting of the licence was a step towards the realisation of its vision of becoming the largest, most successful information, entertainment and telecommunications solutions provider in Africa.
Globacom, which started operations in 2003, is currently the fastest growing network in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, with a subscriber base of 13 million. It achieved one million subscribers in less than nine months of operation with coverage extension over 40,000 towns, communities and villages all over Nigeria.
The company has successfully tested the 3G network, the latest technology in the industry and is about to launch the technology.
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