French Free Mobile to Bid for Algeria’s 3G License

The French Free Mobile firm is due to bid for the announced 3G license in Algeria, at a tender planned for this October.

A well informed source said the Free Mobile has asked for the book of specifications from the Post and Telecommunication Regulator Authority (ARPT).

To recall, there are three mobile phone operators in Algeria, including Qatari Watanya’s Nedjma, Egyptian Orascom’s Djezzy, and Mobilis pertaining to state run Algerie Telecom.

Free Mobile provides high speed fiber optic internet service hitting 100 Mbps, and ADSL+2 internet service of 28 Mpbs speed, in addition to fixed phone and TV services.

3G licence bids are due on 7 October, while the winners are to be announced on 23 October. 

The winners will be able to launch commercial services by the first quarter of 2012. 

Yet, Algeria is urged to install the broadband signal which allows the launch of multimedia high tech, including the G3. 

On another side, a source revealed that the government is likely to conclude the purchase of Djezzy within the two upcoming months with an amount of $4 billion, after that Djezzy paid more than $800 million in back taxes to the government.