mcel invests about $70m in network infrastructure

This sum will be used to meet the strategic objectives of mcel, Mozambique's main mobile phone operator, which has a subscriber base of around three million clients, equivalent to around 70% of the mobile telephony market in Mozambique.

The strategic objectives of mcel involve increasing the capacity of the network platforms so as to satisfy the exponential growth in its customer base.

In this context, it is envisaged the activation of 200 new base stations in 2008 is envisaged, which, apart from substantially improving the quality of the signal and the service provided, will also allow the introduction of new technologies, making it possible to launch innovative services to the market, such as the Third Generation (3G) network and mobile broadband services.

The 3G network will initially cover the cities of Maputo and Matola and, in the subsequent phases, the cities of Beira, Nampula, Tete and Nacala, thus allowing access to broadband connectivity and a myriad of new applications for companies and individuals covered by its extensive network.

mcel has just made the services of its network available along the Tete Corridor, becoming the first and only operator to fully cover this important development corridor, interconnecting Tete city and province to the network backbone. The interconnection will make possible, access to mobile telephony services for millions of citizens living in Manica and Tete provinces.

All of the country's provinces will eventually have 100% of their districts covered by 2009.