Bintel Awarded Fourth Gabon Mobile Telecom Operator License

Bintel Awarded Fourth Gabon Mobile Telecom Operator License 

Regional Telecom Company set to expand its African footprint with initial investment of USD 50 million in Gabon



Bintel has announced that it has been awarded a 15-year mobile license from ARTEL, the telecommunications regulatory authority of Gabon, to become the 4th entrant into the country’s highly competitive mobile telephony market. The company is expected to roll out its services in Gabon in the third quarter of 2009.

With this award, Bintel estimates its initial investment in 2009 in Gabon to be in excess of USD 50 million. As per the terms of the agreement, the company is licensed to provide the latest voice and data services to customers in Gabon. These will include high speed data and video conferencing among many other services. Following the license acquisition, Bintel has appointed industry veteran Gilles Villenaut as General Manager for its Gabon operations. 

“Bintel is committed to redefining Gabon’s telecommunications landscape by building a state-of-the-art mobile communications network and providing customers the most advanced mobile services,” said Mr. Alawi Baroum, CEO of Bintel. “Bintel’s entry into Gabon would further intensify competition in the highly liberalized domestic market, which would ultimately work to the advantage of end users who would have a wider portfolio of services to choose from and can also benefit from more competitive pricing.”

Gabon has an estimated mobile penetration of about 90%, which is estimated to grow to 120% by 2011. According to ARTEL, Gabon currently has about 1.3 million mobile subscribers. Celtel-Zain’s market share stands at about 58%, Gabon Telecom at 34% and Moov at 8%. Bintel is targeting a 6 to 8% share of the Gabon market within its first 12 months and a 30% share within its first 10 years. 

Gabon is one of the most economically advanced and politically stable countries in Africa that offers its investors a conducive business environment. Besides being committed to improving Gabon’s telecommunications sphere, Bintel is committed to working closely with Gabon authorities to promote the excellent investment opportunities the country offers across diverse industry sectors.

“We consider Africa along with other emerging markets to be one of the most promising telecom markets in the decade to come,” Mr. Baroum said. “Governments across Africa and other emerging markets are today seized of the importance of telecommunications in advancing economic growth and have been moving quickly to accelerate the development of mobile communications networks, which are more cost-effective to build than traditional fixed lines and also offer higher return on investment and greater consumer benefits.”

“As a company that focuses on emerging markets as its principal market, Bintel’s business philosophy is underpinned by its commitment to contribute towards the social and economic development by bringing major investment and employment to the communities in which it operates. We put great emphasis on partnering with local firms and hiring personnel locally, and locals/nationals today constitute more than 80% of our operations resources,” Mr. Baroum added.