Monaco Telecom


Monaco Telecom is the main telecommunications provider in the Principality of Monaco. The company was founded in 1997 following a decision by the government of Monaco to privatize the state-owned Office Monégasque des Téléphones.

International development

Africa

In August 2012, Monaco Telecom sold its stake in its subsidiary, Afinis Communications - a Casablanca, Morocco-based telecommunications provider serving Africa's largest corporations - to SkyVision. In September of the same year, the Planor/Kome CESSE/Monaco Telecom consortium was awarded Mali's third mobile telephone licence. Monaco Telecom is the technical partner in the consortium, which operates through the Malian company, Alpha Telecom Mali.

Asia

Monaco Telecom holds a 36.37% stake in Roshan, Afghanistan's leading telecommunications provider, and is the technical lead for the deployment of the Roshan's mobile-telephone network in Afghanistan. Deployment of the network was completed in July 2003. In Afghanistan, which is currently undergoing massive reconstruction, Monaco Telecom also offers a range of complementary telecommunications services, including ISP data networks, leased lines, call centres, and emergency numbers. Monaco Telecom also has an office in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.

Europe

Cyprus:
Since 2018, Monaco Telecom owns 'epic' which is one of the largest telecommunication providers in Cyprus with a recorded share of broadband access at 47.8% in 2019. Epic provides integrated mobile and fixed telephony, internet and pay-TV services as well as specialised ICT solutions for businesses. It currently operates 18 stores with tech products, accessories and telecommunication solutions across all major cities.
Kosovo:
Monaco Telecom won a 1999 United Nations contract to deploy and extend the Kosovo Telecom GSM network in Kosovo. Today, the mobile network covers over 99% of the population, with more than 1.2 million subscribers. In 2012 the Kosovo mobile telephony contract was extended for a further 3 years.
Malta: In December 2019, Monaco Telecom agreed to acquire Vodafone Malta for a cash consideration equivalent to an enterprise value of €250 million; the acquisition was accomplished on 31st March 2020.
Monaco:
Monaco Telecom offers Monegasque residents and companies the entire range of products and services expected of a major telecommunications company. Through a concession agreement with Principality, the company holds the monopoly for fixed-line telephone services, internet access and television services while the mobile telephony market is entirely open to competition. Monaco Telecom currently owns and operates 5 sales outlets in Monaco.
SectorNumber of customers
Fixed lines20 831
Mobile lines35 506
Internet access18 096
TV13 829
4 Play3 402

OnAir Communications

Since 2006, Monaco Telecom has been providing OnAir with infrastructure enabling in-flight connectivity—via GSM and IP networks—on several Airbus aircraft. In June 2006, OnAir extended its agreement with Monaco Telecom to include the development and management of its entire land-based network supporting GSM and GPRS calls originating from anywhere in the world. The first in-flight tests, on a commercial flight, were conducted in December 2007. By the end of 2011, the OnAir system was available in about a hundred aircraft operated by about fifteen companies.
In June 2010, Monaco Telecom and OnAir broadened their range of services to include a new offer OnMarine extending the maritime communications network.

Research and development

Monaco Telecom is a member of Eurecom, an engineering school and communication systems research centre based in Sophia Antipolis, France.

Shareholders

Monaco Telecom is 55% owned by Xavier Niel, founder and largest shareholder of the Paris based Iliad SA. The principality of Monaco owns the remaining 45% through the wholly owned Société Nationale de Financement.

Key dates

For several years Monaco Telecom has spearheaded initiatives to measure electromagnetic field intensities to reassure the public that its installations do not pose a health risk. As of November 2010, electromagnetic wave emissions are regulated under Monegasque legislation, itself inspired by the most stringent regulations in the industry, i.e., an electric-field intensity threshold of 6 Volts/metre for radio antenna, television, walkie-talkie, and WiFi emissions, and 4 Volts/metre for mobile-telephone relay antennas. Compliance with threshold values is monitored by the government-run DCE during annual measurement campaigns, or whenever new mobile radio frequency emitting equipment is brought into service.