MTN launches 3G services in Cote d'Ivoire, Benin

MTN subscribers in Cote d'Ivoire and Benin will soon take off at full throttle as 3G licences were awarded to MTN in both countries recently.

The Ivorian minister of Post and Information Communication Technologies (PTIC), Bruno Koné, delivered the news of the awarding of the 3G licence to MTN Cote d'Ivoire last Thursday at MTN offices in Abidjan. This was during a press conference held to display the SIM and subscriber registration process in MTN service centres and the equipments related to the West African Cable System (WACS).

Wim Vanhelleputte, the chief executive officer of MTN Cote d'Ivoire, announced that WACS, a submarine cable stretching 14 000 kilometres between Portugal and South Africa, will upgrade connectivity for Ivorians to international standards.

"This is a dream come true for many Ivorians whose internet access has been held back for a very long time. The cable will allow more Ivorians to enjoy fast access to the internet. We have already identified about 30% of subscribers who will be the first to experience and enjoy the 3G service," says Vanhelleputte.

First for Benin

Meanwhile, in Benin, MTN was granted a universal licence which allows the company to provide mobile telecommunications services using any technology within the defined agreed frequency range without additional fees. This includes 3G, 4G, LTE, Wimax, Wi-Fi outdoor as well as the use of VoIP.

"MTN is the first and only operator in Benin with a license which allows the use of new generation technologies, such as 3G, 4G, LTE and Wimax. This presents a great opportunity to improve business communication solutions and other services to our customers, both in the consumer and corporate sectors. Customers are already eagerly waiting for the launch of new services using the new technology, and MTN Benin is working hard to ensure that our customers are not disappointed," says Eric Tronel, chief executive officer for MTN Benin.

Christian de Faria, MTN Group chief commercial officer says, "This is exciting news for our customers, as they will now enjoy the benefits of world-class connectivity. We are grateful to the governments of Cote d'Ivoire and Benin for enabling MTN to further enhance the experience of mobile telephony for our customers."