Tunisia has sold a 3G licence to state-owned operator Tunisie Telecom for about USD 80 million, putting it in competition with France Telecom's local unit, Reuters reported. The ministry said in a statement that it had granted the second 3G licence to Tunisie Telecom. The operator is majority owned by the state while Dubai's Tecom Investments and Dubai Investment Group jointly hold 35 percent. The statement did not give further details, but a government official who declined to be named told Reuters that Tunisie Telecom had paid TND 116 million (USD 80 million) for the licence. Last year, Tunisia's Telecommunications Ministry granted the northern African country's first 3G licence to Orange Tunisie, in which France Telecom has a 49 percent stake with the rest owned by Tunisian firm Divona.
