Moov obtained on January 25, 4G licence in Cote d’Ivoire, AIP reports.

The group’s mother company Maroc Telecom ; whose assets transfer to Etisalat old subsidiary has been authorized last January 7 by the council of ministers ; paid an installment of FCFA50 billion. Full cost for the licence is FCFA100 billion and it extends over 15 years.

At the close of a meeting with Ivorian President Allasane Ouattara, Chairman of Maroc Telecom’s executive board, Abdeslam Ahizoune said he “reaffirmed the commitment of his firm as an investor in the telecommunication sector”. Cote d’Ivoire’s third mobile operator in terms of subscribers, Moov-CI holds about 17% of the market, while Orange and MTN respectively hold 38% and 37%. Used to the leading position in most of Africa’s new and old telecom markets (Gabon Telecom, Mauritel in Mauritania, Moov Togo, Moov Niger, etc.), Maroc Telecom plans to secure this poistion by investing in Cote d’Ivoire.

With 4G adding to 3G, Maroc Telecom plans on connecting the whole country to high speed internet. The operator thus plans to allow Ivorians to actively take part in government’s strategy for an economic and social transformation through ICTs.