France Telecom launches Niger phone, Web, services

NIAMEY, Niger, June 30 (Reuters) - France Telecom's (FTE.PA: Quote, Profile, Research) Orange brand on Monday kicked off its Web, fixed and mobile phone services in Niger, seven months after winning a 48 million euro ($75.87 million) licence.

Orange Niger said it started its services in the capital Niamey as well as in four other cities. It hopes to get a 30 percent share of Niger's mobile-phone market in the first year, and 50 percent by 2015.

The new licence breaks up a monopoly in fixed lines enjoyed by Niger's state phone company Sonitel, which is controlled by a consortium of China's ZTE Corp. (0763.HK: Quote, Profile, Research) and Libya's LAAICO.

Niger already has three mobile operators -- Celtel Niger, Sonitel subsidiary Sahel-Com and Telecel Niger -- with 709,000 subscribers, although customers and legislators alike complain about the low quality of existing mobile services.

Niger is one of the world's poorest countries and ranked bottom of the latest U.N. Human Development Index. But with African telecoms markets expanding rapidly, several companies are working to extend phone services. ($1=.6326 Euro) (Reporting by Abdoulaye Massalatchi; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Maureen Bavdek)