Telecommunications operator Meditel, a joint venture between Spain's Telefonica and Portugal Telecom (PT), is expanding its business into fixed-line phone services.
"Our willingness is to repeat our success in the mobile phone business in fixed phone activity," Inigo Serrano, Meditel’s managing director said.
Meditel will offer fixed-phone services to companies, including call centres, and home users. Serrano said Meditel has already invested US$ 34.22 million in its fixed-line business on top of US$ 8.6 million for the license. It plans to invest US$ 80 million more in the near future to develop its fixed-line phone business.
Meditel already possesses mobile and fixed-line licenses, but it only got the government's endorsement in late April to start its fixed-lined operation.
"The total number of fixed-line phones is 1.3 million in Morocco where mobile phone lines grew to a total of 12 million over just six years," Serrano said.
Meditel will not be able to use Morocco's existing fixed-line phone network until next year when the government will partially de-monopolise network access for operators such as Meditel. Maroc Telecom has a monopoly over the state network, which is expected to be fully liberalised in late 2008 or early 2009. Meanwhile, Meditel said it will use a new technology to provide fixed-line services as it avoids heavy investment to build its own network.
Source: Reuters - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News |