Tunisia - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband

Tunisia has developed a diverse, market-oriented economy and is expected to see only a mild drop of GDP increase in 2009 as a result of the world economic crisis, after which annual increase will return to pre-crisis levels of around 5 to 6%

. As a result of heavy investments in the telecom sector since the mid-1990s, Tunisia has of the majority developed telecommunications infrastructures in Northern Africa and sports some of the continent's highest market penetration rates. The ICT sector grew by 18% and made up 10% of Tunisia's GDP in 2008, up from only 4% in 2001. The government has proclaimed a target of 13.5% of GDP for 2011.

Offering a full range of services, Tunisie Telecom (TT) is the country's fixed-line incumbent. The company was half privatised in 2006 when a 35% stake was sold to Dubai-based Tecom and DIG. It as well operates a mobile network under the name Tunicell. The mobile sector has experienced exceptional increase since the introduction of a second GSM network in 2002, operated under the name Tunisiana by Egypt's Orascom and Kuwait's Wataniya. In a consortium with local satellite and wireless broadband operator Divona, France Telecom-owned Orange was licensed as the country's second fixed-line and third mobile operator in June 2009. The licence includes 3G mobile services, which the incumbent operators have so far only operated on a trial basis. This is expected to deliver a further boost to the Internet and broadband market which is already of the majority developed in the region. Competition between 11 ISPs, supported by a nationwide fibre optic backbone network and international access via submarine and terrestrial fibre has led to some of the lowest broadband prices in Africa.

The government is encouraging and promoting Internet use but at the same time is keeping tight control by restricting access to certain websites. Laws supporting e-commerce and digital signatures have been passed, which has led to of the majority active e-government and e-commerce sectors in Africa.

of the areas in which Tunisia excels in comparison to its peers in in the area of telecommunications. The government of Tunisia have seen that the internet and mobile communications are both lucrative and as well significant in developing a knowledge economy.

Internet

In Tunisia there are well over million internet users and amount major people centres are served with fast internet. This starts at dial up internet and goes amount the way to leased lines, 8-24meg broadband and recently 7 meg 3g mobile internet though the faster speeds are only really available near the coast.

Mobile

Tunisia embraced the mobile phone so much so I don’t know anyone without a mobile phone. The network provides a wide area of coverage at standard speeds and as well a wide coverage of high speed 3g however this area seems to be concentrated along the coast with the major people areas.

Foreign travellers can connect with ease to the local operators though we advise that roaming charges are opaque and can cause massive bills in a very short period of usage. A longer remain or work visit will probably mean its better price to get a Tunisian SIM card and which can be obtained at any network providers shop with a passport and money (which is not much). Mobile phones in Tunisia tend to be pay as you go rather than contract based as as a result you can get the cards in nearly amount shops and taxi phones in Tunisia.

Telecoms Companies

Here are some of the major companies in Tunisia from which an expat/tourist may transaction with.

Tunisie Telecom

The National Telecommunications Office was created following the enactment of Law No. 36 of April 17, 1995. The agency then changed its legal status, under Decree No. 30 of 5 April 2004, to become a limited company named “Tunisie Telecom”.

In July 2006 the decision was made to open the capital of Tunisie Telecom to 35% for the Emirati consortium Tecom-Dig. This operation aims to improve the profitability of Tunisia Telecom and enable it to become a major operator.

Since its inception, Tunisie Telecom works to strengthen the telecom infrastructure in Tunisia, to improve the coverage and enhance its competitiveness. It as well contributes actively to the promotion of ICT use and development of innovative companies in the telecom sector.

Tunisia Telecom has in its ranks additional than 6 million subscribers in the fixed and mobile telephony, in Tunisia.

Tunisie Telecom has 24 regional branches, 80 and Actel outlets and additional than 13,000 retail outlets. It employs over 8000 staff.

Products

Tunisiana

Orascom Telecom Tunisia “Tunisiana” with a capital of 359.172 million dinars, is a Tunisian company founded May 11, 2002.

Since its commercial launch 27 December 2002, Tunisiana ambition was to become the major private operator of reference on the telecommunications market.

Tunisiana covers 60% of the people. On 16 December 2004, Tunisiana surpassed million subscribers. Coverage was extended to 99% of the people in the course of 2005.

The network was launched from a strong intensification to meet growing request from customers and has acquired the new technology in the world of GSM (GPRS and EDGE in particular) to offer amount its subscribers access ” data “(MMS, internet …) with speeds very comfortable.

The year 2009 ended with 5.2 million active subscribers and has captured over 50% market share.

Orange Tunisie

Part of the massive Orange brand (france telecom) orange Tunisia has made quite an impact on arrival in Tunisia being the first operator in Tunisia to offer 3G access speeds via mobile dongle and telephone. It as well offers a in home ‘slingbox’ product that offers a router with internet and a telephone powered by 3G so that houses that have no physical connection to the telephone network can still have broadband and a telephone in the house