(Ecofin Agency) - Niger’s government grants the very first 4G mobile license to CELTEL Niger limited, subsidiary of Indian Bharti which operates under Airtel Niger brand. This was decided last April 23 during a special Council of Ministers.

With the draft decree adopted, Celtel Niger will be granted the license “to set and operate fourth generation (4G) mobile telecommunications networks and services, offered to all Nigeriens,” the Council indicated.

In a statement, the council also revealed that due to transparency reasons, the ministry of posts, telecommunications, and digital economy, jointly with the finance ministry and the telecommunications and the post office regulatory authority (ARTP) started direct negotiations with 4 operators on the telecom market for this license’s availability. Negotiation at the end of which “Celtel Niger has been declared provisional successful bidder for the 4G license,” the statement revealed.

This license is granted to revive the telecoms sector and improve digital services within the country. Let’s recall that according to figures from ARTP, the country’s telephone services penetration rate was 38.63% in 2017 while that of internet services (fixed and mobile) was 19.06% in 2016.

Guevanis DOH