Vivendi unit Maroc Telecom launches 3G services

RABAT, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Vivendi's (VIV.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Moroccan affiliate Maroc Telecom IAM.CS(IAM.PA: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) launched third-generation mobile phone services in the north African country's main towns and cities this week, the company said.

Clients using phones enabled with HSDPA (high-speed download packet access) will be able to make video phone calls, download games, ringtones, music and videos faster and use high-speed Internet services, the company said in a statement.

Former monopoly Maroc Telecom and its competitors Meditel and Maroc Connect won licences in 2006 to operate 3G services, paying 360 million dirhams ($46.89 million) each.

French media group Vivendi increased its stake in Morocco's biggest phone company to 53 percent from 51 percent in October.

Maroc Telecom has faced competition since the start of the decade but maintained a dominant market share through an extensive mobile network and cut-price airtime deals. It is now expanding across Africa.

Morocco's telecoms and information technology market grew to 35 billion dirhams ($4.56 billion) in 2006 compared to 10 billion dirhams in 1998, according to telecoms regulator ANRT.

Maroc Telecom shares rose 0.3 percent to 165 dirhams in Casablanca on Wednesday, mirroring a 0.29 percent gain by the benchmark MASI index .MASI. (Reporting by Tom Pfeiffer, editing by Will Waterman)