Vivendi unit Maroc Telecom launches 3G services
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RABAT, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Vivendi’s (VIV.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) Moroccan
affiliate Maroc Telecom IAM.CS(IAM.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) launched
third-generation mobile phone services in the north African
country’s main towns and cities this week, the company said.
Clients using phones enabled with HSDPA (high-speed download
packet access) will be able to make video phone calls, download
games, ringtones, music and videos faster and use high-speed
Internet services, the company said in a statement.
Former monopoly Maroc Telecom and its competitors Meditel
and Maroc Connect won licences in 2006 to operate 3G services,
paying 360 million dirhams ($46.89 million) each.
French media group Vivendi increased its stake in Morocco’s
biggest phone company to 53 percent from 51 percent in October.
Maroc Telecom has faced competition since the start of the
decade but maintained a dominant market share through an
extensive mobile network and cut-price airtime deals. It is now
expanding across Africa.
Morocco’s telecoms and information technology market grew to
35 billion dirhams ($4.56 billion) in 2006 compared to 10
billion dirhams in 1998, according to telecoms regulator ANRT.
Maroc Telecom shares rose 0.3 percent to 165 dirhams in
Casablanca on Wednesday, mirroring a 0.29 percent gain by the
benchmark MASI index .MASI.
(Reporting by Tom Pfeiffer, editing by Will Waterman)
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