The 3G licence auction in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has raised EUR60 million with four operators winning licences at a cost of EUR15 million each.

La Prosperite reports that the licences will become effective on 5 July with Airtel, Oasis (Tigo) and Vodacom, along with new entrant Africell, being the successful bidders.

The country’s technology ministry has issued payment schedules to the operators with minister Kin-Key Mulumba stating that the licences can be revoked if operators fail to meet their payment obligations.

DRC currently has around 16.6 million GSM 2G connections, according to Wireless Intelligence, with market penetration of 24 percent in the second quarter of 2012.

Bharti Airtel leads the way with a 40 percent market share of 6.6 million connections, followed by Vodacom (6.1 million connections), Millicom’s Tigo (2.3 million) and France Telecom-owned Congo Chine Telecom (1.5 million).

The growth rate for connections was 5.7 percent in Q2 2012, with Vodacom experiencing the biggest growth at 8.3 percent.