Tunisia’s Ministry of Communication Technologies has invited telecommunications companies to submit bids for licenses to install and operate a fifth-generation (5G) mobile telecommunications network in the country. This initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to enhance national digital infrastructure and expand broadband coverage.
The ministry made the announcement in a press release on Sunday, June 30, 2024. Interested operators must submit their bids to the central registry of the Ministry of Communication Technologies by 2 p.m. WAT on September 2, 2024. The bid opening will be public, with a general session set for 3 p.m. WAT on the same day to review the administrative, financial, technical, and economic proposals. All bidders are invited to attend.
Telecom operators wishing to participate in the licensing process must first register by submitting various documents, including a receipt for a non-refundable fee of 5000 TND (~$1,609) to the country’s treasury.
This tender follows the government’s approval of the 5G launch roadmap on June 13, which plans to allocate 5 MHz duplex in the 700 MHz band and 100 MHz (TDD) in the 3.5 GHz band to each Tunisian telecom operator. Additionally, three blocks of 20 MHz will be available upon request by operators, with further 5G frequency bands to be announced in later deployment phases. The telecom license will be valid for 15 years at an undisclosed cost.
Tunisia currently has three public mobile telecommunications network operators (Tunisie Télécom, Ooredoo Tunisie, and Orange Tunisie), two mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), and several Internet service providers, including Orange Tunisie Internet, GlobalNet, Hexabyte, Bee, Nety, Next Step, Topnet, and the Tunisian Internet Agency (ATI).
As of February 29, 2024, figures from the National Telecommunications Authority indicate that Tunisia has 16,258,517 mobile phone subscribers and 11,583,616 registered mobile internet customers.
The government has established a dedicated committee within the Ministry of Communication Technologies to oversee the preparatory stages for providing 5G mobile communications services in Tunisia.
