The state-owned Office
de postes et télécommunication (OPT) is the sole provider of basic
telecommunications services in Gabon. Its international telecommunication traffic is
handled by a subsidiary called Société de Télécommunications Internationales Gabonaise
(TIG). TIG is a joint venture between OPT and France Cables et Radio (FCR), a subsidiary
of France Telecom.
A separate company,
partly (32%) owned by OPT, Gabtel, operates VSAT-based voice network for the country and
provides data services in the sub-region, mainly to the niche markets and business
services (e.g., ELF oil and Shell Gabon). Gabtel presently has the monopoly of AMPS-based
(analog) cellular radio since 1996.
Currently,
the telecommunication sector in Gabon is regulated by the Ministère de la
communication, des postes et télécommunications and a monopoly still exists in the
provision of basic telecommunication service through the stated-owned Office de postes et
télécommunications (OPT). All telecommunication investments are financed
"independently" from the government since they are all done by OPT. As far as
telecommunication procurements are concerned, OPT is theoretically allowed to borrow both
locally and internationally, following approval of the ministry of finance.
A draft new law has
now been submitted to the parliament of Gabon. This new law, once put into place, will
separate posts and telecommunications operations from the existing OPT structure. At the
same time, a regulator, Agence Autonome des Réglementations, will be
established. This will be a multi-sectoral regulator responsible for telecommunications,
posts, transports, and water. Furthermore, following the enactment of the law, OPT will be
privatized. This may happen sometime in 1999.
A tender for the
license of a second cellular operator (apart from Gabtel) has been advertised. The process
of separation of posts and telecommunications from the government is being prepared by
Coopers and Lybrand. Financing for the sector restructuring is provided by the World Bank,
and the government is firmly committed to the process.
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