Bharti Airtel launches its 16th African country 3G network

Bharti Airtel has launched 3G services in Tchad, a landlocked country in Central Africa, following the award of a 3G licence. This is the 16th 3G market for the telecom operator in Africa.

The granting of the licence is an important milestone that will contribute to the development of the country and will facilitate internet access for all Tchadians, the company said in a statement.

''Our 3G platform will allow our customers to combine the enormous potential of the internet with the convenience of cellular phones and other mobile devices. The network will unleash the potential of our youth by providing quick access to internet for learning, sharing, social networks, creation and access to educational content,'' Airtel Tchad managing director Salia Gbane said.

Africa is an emerging market and subscribers across the continent are increasingly demanding a more reliable network and superior services.

To provide infrastructure and a high level solutions to meet these requirements, the HSPA+ technology also currently deployed in European markets, will allow Airtel subscribers in Africa to access mobile internet broadband services, it added.

''The launch of the 3G network in the country goes in line with the government commitment to Chadians to make the country become a technology hub in Africa. The private sector contributes a lot to the access of internet and we wish Airtel success with its new 3G network project,'' Tchadian President Idriss Deby said.

According to data from McKinsey & Co, there are currently about 400 million mobile subscribers in Africa. Telecommunications is one of the continent's fastest growing industries with a rapidly expanding cellular phone market that now includes internet access, mobile banking and mobile commerce.

Bharti Airtel, which has operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, will launch services in Niger within the fiscal year.

Headquartered in New Delhi, Bharti Airtel ranks amongst the top four mobile service providers globally in terms of subscribers.