The Malian government has granted the country’s third mobile telephone licence to Planor-Monaco Telecom International Group for FCFA 52 billion (US$105.5 million), according to a government statement.
The granting of the 15-year licence is part of the government’s efforts to boost the telecommunications sector, so far dominated by two telecoms operators – France Telecom’s Orange Mali and Maroc Telecom’s Malitel SA — serving roughly 7 million users.