Gabon: Airtel seeks plots from the government to extend the coverage of its network
October 23rd 2022
Airtel Africa wants to improve its position in its African markets. The company recently invested millions of dollars for the acquisition of additional telecom frequencies in Kenya and Zambia.
Telecommunications operator Airtel Gabon is currently negotiating with the Gabonese government to obtain 165 plots to extend its network coverage in the country, local press reports. This initiative of the company follows the grumblings of the populations badly or not covered at all, particularly inside the country.
“ We have requested the support of the authorities to see to what extent they can support us so that the allocation of its sites can be done as quickly as possible, so that we can launch our construction projects for these sites ”, declared Amade Koussoube, CEO of Airtel Gabon.
The extension of its network should in particular enable Airtel Gabon to improve the quality of the services provided to its subscribers and to acquire new ones. This comes in a context marked by increased competition in the Gabonese telecommunications market where the coverage rate of services remains a major challenge despite the high penetration of mobile (165.5%). In 2021, Moov Africa Gabon Telecom, its rival and market leader, has planned to invest USD 17.9 million over two years to strengthen its network in the country.
According to the Market Observatory of the Electronic Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARCEP) for the first quarter of 2022, the operator has 1.4 million subscribers or 48.62% market share. Moov Africa Gabon Telecom controls 51.38% of the market with its 1.5 million subscribers.
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