(Ecofin Agency) - In Senegal, CKG Group Middle East and partners and South Korean firm SK Telecom submitted to the country’s authorities a joint offer of FCFA100 billion to acquire 4G licence. According to local newspaper l’Observateur, the new potential investors aim to get a universal licence which will enable them to directly start commercializing 4G.

The rather “spontaneous” offer which is currently being studied follows a statement released by Government subsequent to 4G boycott by Sonatel, Tigo and Expresso in Januray 2016. The government, through the post and telecommunication regulatory authority (Artp), after taking note of the “operators’ collective and co-ordinated non-participation” announced “it was re-opening call to bid for 4G licence”. Denying the three operators the new process, ARTP added that the new call to tenders was “opened to any international operator interested in developing Senegal’s telephony and mobile internet”.

During a council of ministers held on March 7, 2013, Senegal’s president Macky Sall asked Abdoul Mbaye, then Prime Minister, to draft a statement of work for a fourth mobile telephony operator. The Head of State believes that the arrival of a new operator would boost competition and lead to a decrease in communication rates and those for Internet.