Mobile networks operators Orange and MTN have each deposited an installment payment to Côte d’Ivoire’s government on the15th December 2015, in order to renew their licence which ends in the Q1 2016. The subsidiary of the French Group paid 50 billion FCFA out of the 100 billion requested whereas the South African Group subsidiary paid 75 billion FCFA. Bruno Nabagne Koné, the Ivorian minister of Posts, Information and Communication Technologies, stated during the ceremony of these payments, that this will strengthen the trust between the operators and Côte d’Ivoire.

The new telecom licence that Orange and MTN paid for will last for 15 years. It will replace the 20 years one given to the two companies in 1996 for a total amount of 40 billion FCFA.

Bilé Diéméléou, the general manager of Côte d’Ivoire Telephony Regulatory Authority (ARTCI), indicated that every operator that pays at least 50% of the rate for the new licence can launch 4G. Although Moov of Maroc Telecom has not yet made any payment, the manager of the regulatory authority declared the operator “eligible” for 4G.

In total, 125 billion FCFA have been paid to the Ivorian government by the two leading operators of the local telecom market in order to renew their telecom licences. Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan attended the ceremony of Orange and MTN installments check deposit. He urged all telecom actors to “make it so that Côte d’Ivoire ranks among the first African countries in terms of information and communication technologies”.