The three rival telephone service providers operating in Togo are contesting leadership in a war of figures
Posted by African Press International on May 18, 2007
Lome (Togo) The three rival telephone service providers operating in Togo are contesting leadership in a war of figures, with each of them claiming to have more customers, APA has noted.
“We have now 250,000 customers against 73,000 in late last year”, said Siaka Kone, the sales manager of the mobile telephone operator “Moov” which supplies its services to 80 localities in Togo.
While the branch of the Cote d’Ivoire-based “Atlantic Telecom” group hopes to reach 500,000 customers at the end of 2007, its direct competitor “Togo Cellulaire” eyes to corner a large network of 750,000 users by end of December.
“We have presently 606,000 customers and we cover 120 localities across Togo”, Affoh Atcha Dedji, administrative and financial manager of “Togo Cellulaire” said.
“Togo Cellulaire” is a branch of the historic operator “Togo Telecom” which is a fully state-owned company.
The top officials of “Togo Telecom” told APA that they have connected in May 2007 about 90,000 users in 300 localities in Togo.
“We have 75,000 consumers for the landline fixed telephone and 15,000 for the radio system”, Abosse Akué-Kpakpo, the “Togo Telecom” customs manager told APA.
This war of figures is not the only snag that worries consumers who rather hope for the reduction of the phone communication charges. The phone pulse is pegged at 160 CFA francs per minute at “Moov”, 140 CFA francs at “Togo Cellulaire”, and 70 CFA francs at “Togo Telecom”.
“These operators should review downward their high charges”, Aladjou Agouta, secretary general of the Togolese consumers’ association deplored.
The consumers think that with the appearance on the market of other telephone operators will impact on the charges. The Togolese telecommunications regulatory body (ARTP), however, does not foresee an imminent satisfaction of such claims.
Massina Palouki, ARTP general manager thinks that Togolese people’s lifestyle should improve before the state approves a contract with another telephone operator.
“If the authorities, however, ask for another operator, we will call for tenders”, Massina told APA in an interview on the celebration of the International Telecommunications Day on 17 May 2007.
Since 1973, this day also marks the anniversary of the signing of the first international telegraphic agreement and the creation of the International Telecommunications Union.
The theme for this year is “Connecting youths : ITC opportunities”.
Published by Korir, African Press in Norway, apn, africanpress@chello.no tel +47 932 99 739 or +47 6300 2525 source.apa
