Three Chinese firms bid for the Republic of Congo's fixed line monopoly Sotelco.
Societe des Telecommunications du Congo (Sotelco) was created in 2003 when the National Post and Telecommunications Office was broken up, with the intention of privatising the newly created companies, but the fixed line operator has not yet been privatised.
Chinese telecom equipment maker Huawei Technologies, rival ZTE and Alcatel Shanghai Bell, the Chinese unit of French telecoms equipment maker Alcatel, have all submitted bids, Minister Philippe Mvouo said.
"These three Chinese companies are bidders for the tender which we have issued, and we will look at these offers to choose the company which best meets our needs," Mvouo told journalists.
The country’s fixed line infrastructure was damaged during a civil war in the 1990s. Since the end of the war, Sotelco has been left behind by the switch to mobile communications.
Sotelco had barely 15,000 clients at the end of 2005: 8,000 in the inland capital Brazzaville and 7,000 in the main oil exporting port of Pointe-Noire. With new fixed line installations slow and expensive at around US$ 790 each, most prospective customers opt for more affordable mobile service. Sotelco has US$ 26 million in unpaid state bills -- almost equal to its 2005 revenues of US$ 30 million.
In 2006, Sotelco's management said the company intended to extend its fixed line and mobile services to the country’s entire territory with the backing of its strategic partner.
The Republic of Congo currently has two mobile operators, MTN and Celtel.
Source: Reuters - WDR/Intelecon Regulatory News
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