Recently we reported on the bidding for the new generation (3G) teleco licences in Morocco. Yesterday ANRT (Agence nationale de reglementation des telecommunications) disclosed the winners and there were no surprises. Morocco said it had awarded the three third-generation mobile phone licences to telecommunications firms already operating in the country for a price of 360 million dirhams ($41.13 million) each.
ANRT named the licence winners as Maroc Telecom, which is controlled by French media group Vivendi, local company Maroc Connect and Meditel, a joint venture between Spain's Telefonica and Portugal Telecom (PT).
Maroc Connect was ranked the first bidder, with the best offer, followed by Maroc Telecom. Meditel came third.
The three telecoms operators are already present in Morocco, where more than 40 per cent of the 30 million population own a mobile phone.
'The operators (already running operations in Morocco) submitted coherent and realistic offers as they know better the market,' said ANRT.
The fourth bidder, Nejma Telecom Maroc, a subsidiary of Kuwait mobile firm Wataniya, failed to won a licence because it was outbid by the three contenders and there were only three third-generation phone licences on offer in the tender, which was launched in April, ANRT added.
The government sees the new licences as part of a drive to liberalise further the telecoms sector and modernise the economy as Morocco strives to turn itself into a platform for exports to the European Union and the US
Tags: Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
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