Algerie Telecom subsidiary Mobilis is poised to become the latest player to dip its toe in Mali’s telecommunication market, having been awarded an operating licence to deploy services nationwide. The award – which includes rights to offer 2G, 3G and 4G services – was confirmed by Modibo Arouna Toure, Mali’s Minister of the Digital Economy and Communication, under a provisional agreement with the government. Full terms are yet to be negotiated regarding the setting up of a new subsidiary for Algerie Telecom, Toure said, but went on to note that company officials are expected in Mali ‘in the coming weeks’ to ‘sign documents and concretise the latest steps, including financial, and start construction work of the network’.
Mobilis will be the fourth cellco in the domestic mobile market, joining established players Orange Mali, Alpha Telecom and Malitel, the mobile arm of fixed line incumbent SOTELMA.