Tunisia: successful technical test-launch of 'Orange Tunisie'
African Manager

"Orange Tunisie" which was awarded six months ago the  third mobile license agreement in Tunisia, covering both GSM and 3 G services, as well as internet and regular landline services, successfully test- launched on Thursday its 2G/3G mobile telecommunications network.

During an official ceremony attended by the Minister of Communication Technologies, Mr Mohamed Naceur Ammar, the French consortium inaugurated a series of services including the broadcasting of Tunisian TV channels on mobile phones, internet surfing from a mobile 3 G terminal, e-mail synchronization as well as the transfer of photos.

Mr Ammar stressed the importance of the role of the third operator in Tunisia, in line with the presidential program which aims at "substantially promoting the ICT sector towards further democratization, a greater broadband penetration and the setting up of an environment propitious to investment and innovation in the digital economy", he said.

"Orange Tunisie" is expected to invest over one  billion dinars by 2015 and will employ some 1500 people this year. In June 2009, the French consortium won the 15 year long third private license, winning the bid after being in competition with "Turcell".
There are currently two mobile telephone operators in the country, namely "Tunisie Telecom", Tunisia's historical operator and Orascom's "Tunisiana".

According to recent reports, The Tunisian telecom market is one of the fastest growing in Africa and in the Middle East, with an average growth rate estimated at 5,4% over the next five years.

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