Luanda – Africell, the fourth mobile phone operator in Angola has all the conditions created to start operations as from December this year, said this Monday, the CEO of the company, Christopher Lundh.
This information was provided at the end of an audience that the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, granted to the ambassador of the United States of America (USA) to Angola, Nina Maria Fite, and to the delegation of Africell Global Holding Ltd.
Africell's CEO told the press that the works on the operator's operations center will be completed in the coming weeks.
It is an investment of around US$300 million that will initially provide 400 direct jobs and 100 indirect jobs.
The minister of Telecommunications, Information Technologies and Mass Media, Manuel Homem, who attended the audience, said that Africell's entry into the market would create balance in the offer and improvement of telephone services in the country.
He added that the meeting clarified the objectives outlined for the fourth operator, corresponding to the National Development Plan, under implementation.
Manuel Homem said that the regulatory body is creating conditions for Africell to start operating in Luanda, but that it can gradually expand to the entire country, starting with the largest urban centers.
On her turn, ambassador Nina Maria Fite said that Africell is an example of how companies from the United States of America invest in Angola in sectors other than oil.
“American companies bring technology, work and train nationals for the job market,” said the diplomat.
In February this year, the Angolan Communications Institute (INACOM) and Africell signed a Concession Contract for the Provision of Electronic Communications Services, licensing this operator with the Unified Global Title (UGT).
The contract enables Africell to sell electronic communications products and to provide traditional and financial services, via mobile phone (Mobile Money), throughout the geographic area of the Republic of Angola.
With this 4th operator, the government expects the improvement of competition in the sector, with more technological innovation and quality of products and services, as well as better prices, for the benefit of citizens and the national economy.
In 2017, the first three Global Unified Title licenses were granted to the companies, Angola Telecom, Movicel and Unitel, after holding a Frequency Auction.