UN sanctions prohibit sale of state-owned telco (Niger)
The government of Niger has acknowledged that it is on the lookout for a new buyer for Sonitel, the state-owned company in the wake of UN sanctions prohibiting a deal that was struck earlier with the Libyan company LAP Green.
According to Communications Minister Salifou Labo Bouche, they are going to launch an international tender invitation. In addition, they are going to make sure that the buyer this time is a real professional.
Currently, there are four mobile networks while the new company who stands to acquire Sonitel could be a new entrant or a company that is already operating in the Nigerien market.
As per sources, the country boasts of 14.4 million mobile phone subscribers, representing a 23% population penetration level.
Court orders Rwandatel liquidation; telco to hold meeting with creditors (Rwanda)
Rwandatel is a telco based in Rwanda. The company stated that it is bracing up for holding meeting with its creditors, in the wake of an ordered liquidation by a local court so as to be able to repay debts.
The telco’s debt is estimated at close to $89 million while the company’s assets are valued at just $50 million. In addition, Rwandatel was ordered to close down its GSM network early this year, in view of claims by the regulator that the telco had failed to abide by the license obligations.
Sources have quoted Rwandatel’s Administrator, Richard Mugisha saying that according to the provisions by means of the law, the company is mandated to meet with its creditors to agree on resolutions and approve a managerial team to oversee the company during the process.
Adding that when the company’s assets are successfully sold off, they shall discuss with the different institutions and individuals whom they owe, when and how the payment process will be implemented.
LAP Green, the Libyan investment group owns 80% stake in the telecom company while the Social Security Fund of Rwanda (SSFR) 20 percent.
Zamtel rolls out its 3G network (Zambia)
Zamtel the mobile network operator based in Zambia has launched its 3G network, in the wake of the network’s $37 million upgrade.
According to Zamtel’s chief commercial officer Amon Jere, the 3G technology will be first switched on along the line of rail and North-western province, Copperbelt province, Lusaka, Choma, Mazabuka and Livingstone.
Jere expects to finish the first phase of service roll out in October while the second phase will see them switch on the services across all provincial capitals.
A 75% stake in Zamtel has been purchased by the Libya based Lap Green Networks in the year gone by for $257 million. In addition, the former had also pledged to invest further $127 million in the company as part of recapitalization and also for upgrading the network.
Niger signs off on Libyan deal for state telecom firm
Niger government has confirmed a deal with Libya’s LAP Green Network for a ten-year majority share in state telecommunications firm Sonitel and its mobile arm, Sahel Com.
As per the deal, Green Network – part of the Libyan African Investment Portfolio (LAP) – will pay $65.86 million for a 51% share in a ten year license for the communications firms, which will be fused into one. The investment comes in spite of Green Network being hit by United Nations sanctions targeting Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, with Zambia in March saying it was freezing Green’s assets there.
Sonitel was previously controlled by a Chinese-Libyan consortium, Dataport, but the deal was scrapped by Niger’s government in 2009, partly due to the lack of investment.
A union spokesman complained that the new deal would be no better and called for an international tender for the contract.
The new deal was first agreed by the country’s military government in January. The uranium-exporting West African nation is now headed by Mahamadou Issoufou, who came to power after winning an election in March.
A spokesman for the main telecommunications union immediately rejected the deal, stating that Green’s investment would be no better than the previous one, which brought together China’s ZTE and the Libyan Arab African Investment Company.
According to Adam Amoumoum, spokesman for a collection of unions covering the telecommunications sector, whether it is LAAICO or the Green Network, it is the same thing – it is Libya. As before, they will not respect their promises and Sonitel will not be made profitable. We call for an international tender (for the contract)..
LAP is Libya’s flagship Africa investment vehicle, which was launched in 2006, and the Green Network operates in a number of African countries.
Vodafone Netherlands chunks Viber
Vodafone Netherlands opts to block Viber, a chat service which provides free unlimited chat messages and VoIP.
As per Viber CEO Talmon Marco, the performance of the app has gone down since 10 March in Vodafone Netherlands. Other operators which filter out the app include Bouygues France and Vodafone in Romania and Cyprus.
VoIP calls using Viber are able to go through on the Vodafone NL network but the quality is so poor that conversations become unintelligible. Viber views the filtering policies as equal to censorship seen in countries such as Libya and Iran as it argues that operators are hindering innovation.
According to Vodafone NL, the operator stated that it was not fair for all subscribers to have to pay for VoIP.Vodafone has confirmed that it does block certain services for basic subscriptions. The service becomes available for users taking an extra bundle. The service is therefore not being blocked.
208 operators in 80 countries currently investing in LTE- Report
A recent report by Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA) has revealed that around 208 operators are now investing in LTE, which is 98 operators more than in June 2010.
According to the report, the number of countries and territories where LTE systems are deployed or planned has increased by 32 in the same period.
The report confirms 154 firm LTE network deployments are in progress or planned in 60 countries, including 20 networks which have commercially launched. A further 54 operators in 20 more countries are engaged in LTE technology pilot trials or tests.
Taken together, it means that 208 operators in 80 countries are now investing in LTE. The report covers both LTE FDD and LTE TDD systems. The 60 countries and territories having firm LTE network commitments are Andorra, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong S.A.R., Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Latvia, Libya, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore , South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, UAE, UK, Uruguay, USA, and Uzbekistan.
LTE networks are launched in 14 countries, namely Austria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Lithuania, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Sweden, USA, and Uzbekistan. GSA forecasts that at least 81 LTE networks will be in commercial service by end-2012.
GreenNet launch delayed (Libya)
If reports are to be believed, the planned launch of GreenNet Sierra Leone,has been delayed by the ongoing crisis in Libya.
According to Sierra Leone’s minister of information and communication, Ibrahim Kargbo, GreenNet, which is 100 percent owned by Libyan government-owned investment vehicle Libyan Africa Portfolio (LAP), has temporarily suspended its operations due to the unrest in Libya.
The company had planned to launch GSM services in Sierra Leone by 27 April, having made the first official call over its GSM network in February.
LAP holds telecoms licences in six other African countries, including Rwanda, Uganda, Niger, Cote D’Ivoire and Togo.
STC rolls-out offer for international calls (Saudi Arabia)
STC has introduced Sawa International, offering international calls to selected countries from US$0.14 per minute.
The company claims this is the cheapest international fare for prepaid cards in the country.
Under the new offer, STC customers can make discounted calls to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt and Philippines for US$0.14 per minute, while calls to Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, Sudan, Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Libya, Lebanon and Nepal cost US$0.18 per minute.
Calls to Kuwait and UAE cost US$0.23 per minute. The discounted rate for calls to Morocco, Algeria, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Eritrea is 102 halls per minute and calls to Somalia are US$0.34 per minute.
STC announced that this offer is available to all Sawa and Lana customers for one month starting 13 May.
Rwandatel may look for foreign investors
Rwandatel may look for a foreign investor if a local court does not liquidate the debt-laden operator.
Rwanda’s telecommunications regulator stripped Rwandatel of its mobile licence for failing to meet key performance targets in terms of investment, network roll-out, coverage and quality of service.
The company, 80 percent owned by the Libyan African Investment Portfolio (LAP), acquired its operating licence in 2007 but only started mobile operations in December 2008.
The Rwandan government has taken custody of some Libyan-owned assets in line with an international freeze, but has not explicitly stated that the Libyan investment in Rwandatel has been frozen, given the pending court ruling.
The telecommunication regulator said it would await the court ruling to see what options there would be to protect the interests of Rwandatel creditors. Last month, a Rwandan court appointed an interim manager to oversee the company’s affairs for the next two months, including paying debts of RWF 54.3 billion.
However, the company maintained its fixed line and data licence, which accounted for 60 percent of its revenues. Richard Mugisha, the company’s interim manager, dispelled media reports that foreign telecom companies, particularly Vodacom, were already in talks with the company and the regulator about a possible take over.
Mugisha stated that the kind of assets the company has can only be used by someone who is established in this business and understands it. Keeping, or changing the brand identity of the company, would depend on the business decision of that investor.
Rwandatel loses mobile license (Rwanda)
The Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) has confirmed that the revocation of the Rwandatel’s mobile license is permanent.
The decision taken on 4 April in accordance with Rwanda telecom law, stating clearly that Rwandatel cannot regain its license. Tigo and MTN still remain in the market. It is expected that hundreds of employees will lose their jobs.
The company employs over 320 Rwandans and five Libyan expatriates, and has 11 distributors countrywide. Rwandatel will have to switch off its network, retaining only those employees operating the fixed telephony and internet services, which the company provides using a different license.
According to RURA, the fixed telephony and internet license shall remain active and operational as usual. The regulator noted that the exit of Rwandatel will neither affect the market nor the 60% by 2012 penetration goal. Rwanda’s penetration rate for mobile services is currently at 36%.
