Cameroon
Cameroon’s Camtel and Camtel Mobiles are scheduled to be privatized in 2000. Camtel is the incumbent state-owned cellular carrier and operates a GSM 900 network, which had just over 5,100 subscribers as of early this year. A second carrier, operated by France Cfbles et Radio, was licensed in May and is scheduled to begin service in early 2000.
Gabon
The commercial trunked radio industry should open in Gabon by January, according to the International Mobile Telecommunications Association (IMTA). In January, a new law that will liquidate the government’s ownership of GabTel, the only trunked radio operator in Gabon, and allow other private companies to enter the market is expected to be forwarded to the government. GabTel operates a trunked radio system with three sites and serves about 450 subscribers. Sources in Gabon predict the government will issue several new licenses for trunked radio systems between January and March.
Nigeria
Adicom Wireless, a Silicon Valley Advanced CDMA wireless local loop systems provider, announced a project with Lagos, Nigeria-based Mobitel that will provide phone and data services to several thousand subscribers in Lagos and other large Nigerian cities. Mobitel made an initial purchase of a 6,000-line integrated wireless access solution, comprising the Aditus WLL system and Aditus switching platform SI20000, for deployment beginning in January, said Adicom.
Airspan Communications, London, also signed a contract with Mobitel. Airspan will provide WLL network in Nigeria’s Warri region.
Tanzania
Airspan Communications and telecom service provider Adesemi Communications International deployed 650 wireless payphones in the Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam. The carrier’s Adesephone service, based on Airspan’s AS4000 WLL platform, comprises wireless, card-operated public payphones and a paging and voice mail network, said Airspan. Subscribers use prepaid Adesemi phone cards for local, long-distance and voice-mail calls-all at the cost of a local call. The service, which costs US$30, is targeted at Tanzanians earning US$200 to US$1,000 per month.
