Maroc Telecom has won a mobile licence in Côte d’Ivoire, and paid the first CFAFr50bn tranche of the fee. In December, MTN made a CFAFr75bn down payment for a licence, while Orange reported paid CFAFr50bn towards its licence fee.
Maroc Telecom has won a mobile licence in Côte d’Ivoire, and paid the first CFAFr50bn (US$82.54m) tranche of the fee. In December, South Africa-based MTN made a CFAFr75bn (US$124m) down payment for a licence, while Orange was reported to have made a down payment of CFAFr50bn (US$82.54m).
A year ago, Maroc Telecom completed its €474m (US$536.3m) acquisition of Atlantique Telecom, which comprised six central and western African markets including Côte d’Ivoire.
According to Maroc Telecom chairman and CEO Abdeslam Ahizoune, the licence would pave the way for investments in 3G, 4G and fibre.
Maroc Telecom’s Moov competes with market leaders MTN and Orange. In 2015, the government was reported to have nationalised Comium and LapGreen, accused of failing to pay taxes and licence fees, in order to consolidate them into a larger player that could be sold to a new entrant.
The country had a population of 20.3 million as of 2013, according to the World Bank, and 86% mobile penetration, according to analysts at Budde.