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Tunisiana wins 3G and fixed licence
29 March 2012
Tunisia awards licence to help Qtel-backed operator Tunisiana expand its presence to fixed services
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Tunisiana has won 3G and fixed licences from the Tunisian ministry of communication technologies. The new licences will the operator diversify from mobile, according to local reports.
Mongi Marzoug, minister of communication technologies for Tunisia, highlighted the positive impact and opportunities arising from fixed and 3G licensing, and emphasised on the need to intensify competition in the telecommunications market.
Marzoug told Tunisian news agency TAP: “The granting of this license will reduce the digital divide, by improving coverage of telecommunication services and access to these services.â€
Tunisiana, part of Qatar’s Qtel group, repurchased part of local internet provider FAI Tunet, and committed to develop regional services, as prerequisites for the tender. Rival operators Orange and Iliad could not meet the tender requirements, so withdrew from the process, leaving Tunisiana as the sole eligible bidder.
The operator has also agreed with Chinese telecommunications equipment vendor Huawei on 3G network deployment in the interior parts of Tunisia. Orange and Tunisie Telecom already hold 3G licences in the country. GTB
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