Senegal invites third mobile operator

The Senegalese government has invited tenders for a third mobile operator, in addition to the country's two mobile operators, Orange and Tigo. The successful bidder will be given the rights to launch the second private mobile service provider after Tigo, formerly called Sentel.The concession will also give the winner rights to provide fixed line and internet access services head-to-head with France Telecom-backed existing monopoly Sonatel.The regulator of Senegalese telecoms, Agence de Regulation des Telecoms et Postes (ARTP), has set 31 August 2007 as the deadline for offers. In the case of more than one bidder being received, a second round of bidding will take place. Over the years, Senegalese mobile market has recorded a sharp increase in mobile phone business.In March 2007, the number of mobile users in Senegal was estimated at over 3.37 million, compared to 1.94 and 1.73 millions in 1996 and 1995, respectively.In December 2006, the total number of residential and business provided by Sonatel reached 282,573. Orange, a subsidiary of the national telecommunications company, has the highest number of mobile subscribers in the country.Until last year when it jointly adopted Orange with its Sonatel office in Mali, the national mobile service provider had been using trading its products in the name of Alizé.Orange is lent from Sonatel's main shareholder, France Télécom, the Director General of Sonatel, Cheikh Tidiane Mbaye, said. Meanwhile, with effect from 7 October this year, all telephone lines in Senegal will have two more digits added for dialing up. Telecommunication officials said 33, 77 and 76 will be added to fix, Orange and Tigo lines, respectively.