Page 35 - 2012 Annual Report

VIVENDI l 2012 l Annual Report 35
GROUP PROFILE – BUSINESSES – LITIGATION – RISK FACTORS 1
1
SECTION 2 - BUSINESSES
MAROC TELECOM
2.5.2.3. NETWORK
Maroc Telecom has developed a cutting-edge network to offer a broad
range of services. This network is made of a transmission backbone,
switching centers, service platforms and an access network.
At year-end 2012, it covered 98.9% of the population with nearly 7,000
2G base stations. This coverage has been expanded, due in particular
to the universal service PACTE program (whose purpose is to provide all
regions of Morocco a generalized access to telecommunications, without
exception). As part of this program, Maroc Telecom has installed 875 base
stations with voice and data access via EDGE, covering more than 6,800
rural towns and villages.
The mobile network is supplemented by a 3G/HSDPA network. In 2012, it
was expanded and made more dense with more than 3,800 3G stations
in the major urban areas of the Kingdom of Morocco and along major
transportation routes. It allows Maroc Telecom to offer next-generation
services to mobile customers and covers 64.3% of the population,
compared to 54.5% at year-end 2011.
With relationships in approximately 230 countries, Maroc Telecom ensures
Morocco’s connectivity to the world:
✱ two international transit centers located in Casablanca and Rabat;
✱ five undersea fiber optic cables between Morocco and Europe:
SMW3, Tétouan-Estepona, Eurafrica, Atlas Offshore and Loukkos.
The Loukkos cable was commissioned by Maroc Telecom in April 2012.
It connects Asilah to Rota and continues to Seville, Spain. These
cables have a capacity of 250 Gbits (compared with 110 Gbit/s at year-
end 2011). This capacity has increased fivefold in four years to meet
the connectivity needs of the Kingdom; and
✱ satellite links to connect the most remote areas of the Kingdom
of Morocco to the Maroc Telecom backbone.
The construction of a terrestrial fiber optic artery of approximately
5,300 km has also been launched to connect Maroc Telecom to its
sub-Saharan subsidiaries (Mauritania, Mali and Burkina Faso). 94% of the
project is already completed.
2.5.3. International
2.5.3.1. MAURITEL
The Maroc Telecom Group holds 41.2% of Mauritel, via CMC, a holding
company, which holds 51.5% of the Mauritel shares and in which the
Maroc Telecom Group holds an 80% interest.
Mauritel offers fixed-line telephony (voice and data) and Internet access
to individuals and companies. It is the largest operator in this market with
nearly 41,000 active lines, an increase of 0.2% compared to 2011. At the
end of September 2012, the Mauritel market share reached 48.6% and the
penetration rate remains at 2.6% (source: Dataxis).
In 2009, Mattel (the Mauritanian-Tunisian telecommunications company)
and Chinguitel were awarded a fixed-line license to operate in the
Mauritanian market. However, to date, Mattel has not developed either a
network or fixed-line offerings, while Chinguitel offers fixed-line services
on its CDMA network. Mauritel is therefore the only fixed-line operator
in Mauritania.
As of December 31, 2012, Mauritel has nearly 7,000 Internet subscribers,
an increase of 2.5%, most of whom are connected to the ADSL network.
Since August 2007, Mauritel has also been active in the mobile market
alongside Mattel and Chinguitel. Mauritel recorded 2 million customers
in its mobile customer base as of December 31, 2012, an annual
increase of 15.2%. It is comprised almost entirely of prepaid customers.
As of September 30, 2012, the Mauritel market share was 61.5%,
up 3.1 percentage points year-on-year (source: Dataxis). This growth has
been driven by an adjustable pricing and promotional policy (marketing
of prepaid cards with per-second billing, packs combining voice, SMS
and mobile Internet) and the launch of value-added services.
2.5.3.2. ONATEL
The Maroc Telecom Group holds a 51% interest in Onatel in Burkina Faso.
Since December 29, 2010, the date on which the Onatel Extraordinary
Shareholders’ Meeting approved the proposed merger with its mobile
subsidiary Telmob, Onatel has become a global operator. It benefits from
the pooling of all its fixed-line, mobile and Internet businesses.
As of December 31, 2012, its fixed customer base has stabilized at 141,000
lines. The ratio of the fixed penetration rate to the population still remains
low, reaching only 0.8% at the end of September 2012 (source: Dataxis).
Over the same period, Internet customers totaled nearly 30,000 ADSL
subscribers, down 3.6% compared to 2011.
As of September 30, 2012, the Burkina Faso market totaled 8.2 million
mobile customers, with a penetration rate of 47.7%, up 5.7 percentage
points year-on-year. The mobile market in Burkina Faso has experienced
fierce competition between the three operators (Onatel, Airtel and
Telecel Faso). As of December 31, 2012, Onatel had 3.9 million customers
(an annual increase of 30%), almost all of whom were prepaid. This
performance allowed it to consolidate its leading position with a market
share of 46% at the end of September 2012 (+4.3 percentage points
year-on-year). Onatel distinguishes itself from its competitors through its
promotional efforts, the quality of its services and its network coverage.
The operator commissioned 91 new antennas during the year, bringing the
total to 693 units.
2.5.3.3. GABON TÉLÉCOM
The Maroc Telecom Group holds a 51% interest in Gabon Télécom,
Gabon’s incumbent telecommunications operator.
The Extraordinary Shareholders’ Meeting of Gabon Télécom of
December 20, 2011 approved the proposed merger of Gabon Télécom
with its mobile subsidiary Libertis. Since then, Gabon Télécom has been a
global operator that is leveraging the convergence of its fixed-line, mobile
and Internet activities.