Togo: Moov Back On Air

Togolese m­obile network operator, Moov has resumed services after being suspended by the regulator last August for non-payment of license fees. The operator has signed an agreement with the Telecommunications Regulation Authority (ARPT) to pay license renewal fees of CFA 25.75 billion (US$48 million) over a twelve year period.

Some 600,000 people lost their mobile phone service as a result of the network closure. During the shut-down, a large number of subscribers moved over to the state-owned operator, Togocel.

When the network was shut-down, there was widespread protests against the move. The local Daily Guide newspaper reported at the time that protesters chanted slogans and carried placards, some of which read "MOOV Forever And Ever" and "Prez. Faure Get Our Phone Connections Back".

Moov is a subsidiary of Atlantique Telecom.

The dominant telco is the state owned Togo Cellular, with around 1.25 million customers. France Telecom's Orange seems to have an operating license but has not started services yet.