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TMCNet: Third Mobile License Awarded to French Consortium

[June 26, 2009]

Third Mobile License Awarded to French Consortium

Tunis, Jun 26, 2009 (Tunisia Online/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- A consortium composed of France Telecom and Divona/Orange has been awarded the third mobile license in Tunisia. The license covers the regular GSM services and 3G, as well as landline services.

A statement released by the Ministry of communication technologies on Friday indicates that the French consortium made an offer of 257,251 million dinars (137,647 million Euros).

During a press conference, Mr Haj Klai, the Minister of communication technologies said that the Divona/ Orange, France Telecom consortium "presented the best financial and technical offer". He also said that a contract will be signed within the next days between Tunisia and the provisional recipient of the bid.

The offer, he added, is superior by some 46% to the estimate given by French- American and Canadian consulting groups.

Mr Klai also said that the operation is carried out in accordance with the provisions of the international call for tender and within an international context marked by the global economic downturn.

He also stressed the positive impact of the entry of a third telecom operator in Tunisia, especially insofar as the modernization of the country's media landscape and the boosting of competitiveness in the ICT sector, are concerned.

Tunisia issued the call for tender in December 2008 for a 15- year second private license due to start on in January 2010.

The French consortium provisionally won the bid after being in competition with the Turkish operator "Turkcell".

The operation which is expected to necessitate investments of 1080 million dinars over the next five years, will create 2000 employments among university graduates.

There are currently two mobile network operators in the country, "Tunisie Telecom" and Orascom's "Tunisiana". In 2006 Tunisie Telecom, the country's historical operator opened up 35% of its capital to Dubai's "Tecom- Dig" for 1,8 billion Euros.

According to the latest figures released by the Ministry of communication technologies, there are 8,6 million mobile phone subscribers in the country for a population of 10,2 million.

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