MTN Benin wins 3G licence for USD99m

South African-backed MTN Benin has announced that it is the first to receive a 3G mobile operating licence amongst the five GSM operators in the West African country. The Benin government has granted MTN a universal (technology and service neutral) licence allowing 3G, 4G (LTE or mobile WiMAX), public Wi-Fi as well as VoIP services. The company’s CEO Eric Tronel confirmed that MTN Benin was the first in the country to win a 3G/4G licence, adding that the concession ‘presents a great opportunity to improve business communication solutions and other services to our customers, both in the consumer and the corporate sectors. Customers are already eagerly waiting the launch of new services using the new technology, and MTN Benin is working hard to ensure that our customers are not disappointed.’ TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database notes that 3G data services based on CDMA2000 1xEV-DO Rev A technology are offered in Benin by the Kanakoo division of Benin Telecoms, marketed as a fully mobile internet access service, although the actual extent of 3G-speed mobile coverage is not clearly stated by the state-owned company.

Source: TeleGeography