Friday, August 6, 2010

Burkina Launches Tender For Operators

Burkina Faso’s telecoms regulator, the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications (ARCE), has announced the launch of an international tender for a combined fixed and wireless concession which includes the provision of third-generation (3G) services.

The licence is valid for a period of ten years and covers the whole of the country. Interested parties can consult the tender document free of charge or obtain a copy from ARCE for a non-refundable fee of XOF300,000 (USD594).

Submissions must be made before 19 October 2010, at which date bids will be opened at the regulator’s headquarters in the country’s capital Ouagadougou.

Burkina Faso is home to three wireless network operators: market leader Telmob, which launched in December 1996 as the wholly owned cellular arm of fixed line operator the Office National des Telecommunications (Onatel); Telecel Burkina Faso, which inaugurated its GSM-900 network in December 2000; and Zain Burkina Faso, which launched wireless services in January 2001.

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