(Ecofin Agency) - Niger’s four mobile operators were imposed a fine of more than FCFA3.5 billion, for not boosting the quality and coverage of their services. The news was revealed on the national TV channel by Aichatou Bety, the member of the regulatory authority in charge of posts and telecommunications (ARTP).  

Among the four operators, Celtel Niger, subsidiary of the Indian Bharti, was imposed the heaviest fine, FCFA1.576 billion. According to ARTP, the operator has not reduced the rate of communication cuts below 2%. It is also blamed of not having improved the quality of its voice services in the country’s main cities, namely Niamey, Maradi, Agadez and Zinder. 

Orange-Niger, subsidiary of French Orange was ordered to pay a fine of FCFA925.474 million for failing to cover the inside of buildings to 70% in the town of Birmin’Konni (Southern Niger). 

The only Niger firm operating in the country, Sahelcom, was also sanctioned with a FCFA620.505 million fine by ARTP also accusing the operator of not bringing its network coverage inside buildings to 70% in many cities, including Niamey, Maradi, Tahoua, Zinder.  

The last, Moov-Niger received the least significant fines of all, which still represents 1.6% of its turnover. It has to pay FCFA423.463 million for the same reason as Sahelcom and Orange, but in Niamey and Birmin’Konni only however. 

Last July 7^th, ARTP released its activity report for 2016 which shows that penetration rate for telephony in the country stood at 38.63%, up 1.3pt compared to 2015. The same trend was recorded for internet’s penetration rate (land and mobile) which stood at 19.06% in 2016, up 3.97pt compared to 2015.