Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COTONOU696
2007-09-07 10:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Cotonou
Cable title:  

BENIN: ONE GSM CELL PHONE PROVIDER SIGNS A NEW CONVENTION

Tags:  ECON ECPS PGOV BN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1080
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHCO #0696 2501001
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 071001Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY COTONOU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9839
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHLMC/MILLENIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHDC
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1158
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1393
UNCLAS COTONOU 000696 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/EPS:KRZYWDA, AF/W:BANKS, EB/TPP/ABT:LERSTEN
DEPT PASS TO COMMERCE: MD'ANDREA AND USTR: AHEYLIGER/LAGAMA
PARIS FOR D'ELIA
DAKAR FOR FAS (RHANSON)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ECPS PGOV BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: ONE GSM CELL PHONE PROVIDER SIGNS A NEW CONVENTION
WITH GOB FOR REINSTALLATION OF SERVICE

REF: A) COTONOU 440, B) COTONOU 447, C) COTONOU 525 AND

D) COTONOU 547

UNCLAS COTONOU 000696

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/EPS:KRZYWDA, AF/W:BANKS, EB/TPP/ABT:LERSTEN
DEPT PASS TO COMMERCE: MD'ANDREA AND USTR: AHEYLIGER/LAGAMA
PARIS FOR D'ELIA
DAKAR FOR FAS (RHANSON)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ECPS PGOV BN
SUBJECT: BENIN: ONE GSM CELL PHONE PROVIDER SIGNS A NEW CONVENTION
WITH GOB FOR REINSTALLATION OF SERVICE

REF: A) COTONOU 440, B) COTONOU 447, C) COTONOU 525 AND

D) COTONOU 547


1. Further to reftels, on September 06, 2007, Telecel-Benin also
known as Moov signed a new license with GOB, after almost two months
of negotiation, in compliance with the GOB new convention which sets
the license fee at 30 billion CFA (6.28 million USD). As a result
Telecel-Benin has resumed providing GSM cell phone service for its
four hundred subscribers.


2. On July 12, 2007, the GOB terminated operations for Telecel-Benin
and Areeba, aka MTN, two major GSM after their refusal to conform to
new regulations. The new regulations were the GOB's response to
frequent name changes unilaterally carried out by these companies in
violation of the then existing law. Negotiations between Areeba and
GOB are still underway.

BROWN