December 23, 2000
Belgian cellular telephone firm "Sait Telecom," has launched a new telecommunications network on the "GSM 1800 band," in Kinshasa, the DR Congo capital, following the example of American operator, "Celtel," which unveiled its own system a week ago.
Officials said at the launch Friday that the Belgian operator plans to provide 40,000 lines under the first phase of the scheme, with an investment of some 35 million Belgian francs.
The project, a joint partnership involving investors from Belgium and Luxembourg, is expected to yield about 280,000 lines, according to Sait Telecom officials.
An official at the Congolese Telephone and telecommunications (PTT) Ministry, said some 16 private operators had now received cellular phone licences in the country of 50 million people, which has a ratio of 0.08 telephone lines to 100 persons.
Philemon Mokonzi, Permanent Secretary in the PTT Ministry urged greater co-operation among the private networks to make the service affordable to Congolese.
According to the Ministry, an investment of some 400 million US dollars has been earmarked to improve the sector.
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