(Ecofin Agency) – Last August, the regulator threatened telecom operators with sanctions due to the poor quality of services provided to consumers. Mauritel risks 313.2 million ouguiyas in fines, among others.
The mobile telephone operator Moov Mauritel, a Mauritanian subsidiary of Maroc Telecom Group, announced on Thursday October 31 that it had initiated an investment program of 14 billion old ouguiyas ($35.2 million) to strengthen its telecoms infrastructure. Lasting seven months, the initiative allowed “to achieve a clear improvement in voice and Internet quality throughout the national territory“. This comes in a context where users and the government deplore the poor quality of services provided by telecom operators.
A control mission carried out between December 2023 and January 2024 by the Regulatory Authority (ARE) showed that “the quality of services provided by electronic communications operators to their users is clearly below the standards in force, in several cities, towns and roads“. The government therefore threatened to heavily sanction telecom operators.
In addition to a three-month reduction in licenses, the financial sanctions incurred are 127 million ouguiyas for Mattel, 313.2 million ouguiyas for Mauritel and 100.2 million ouguiyas for Chinguitel. A new control mission was launched in September to verify possible improvements and apply the measures provided for by law in the event of persistent non-compliance.
This announcement from Mauritel comes a few days after its competitor Mattel announced that it had completed a campaign to extend and modernize its telecoms network initiated in 2022 with the technical support of the Chinese technology company Huawei.
Improving service quality should enable Mauritel to adequately respond to customer needs, which has the potential to reduce churn and increase service usage, according to the World Association of Telecom Operators. telephony (GSMA). This should also enable the mobile operator to avoid revenue losses and secure a competitive advantage.
Moov Mauritel claims the status of “undisputed leader in telecommunications in Mauritania“. At the end of September 2024, the company reported 2.5 million mobile subscribers. At the end of September 2023, it had a market share of 52% in this segment where it competes with Mattel and Chinguitel. The telecoms operator also has 15,000 fixed telephone subscribers and 37,000 fixed broadband subscribers.
Isaac K. Kassouwi
Also read:
10/23/2024 — Mauritania: Mattel expands its telecoms network with technical support from Huawei
03/09/2024 — Mauritania threatens telecom operators with heavy sanctions
