Mozambique’s third largest mobile network operator Movitel has injected more than $117 million to upgrade its fixed line and mobile networks across the country, as it looks to shake its relyiance on government infrastructure.

Movitel Chairman, Safura da Conceicao, said that with the investment the company plans to cover the installation of 70% of all fibre-optic networks in the country.

The telco has tripled its fibre-optic density in Mozambique, from about 293 kilometres per million inhabitants to 787 kilometres per million.

The upgrade comes as operator has been heavily depended on the government's infrastructure to boost its network.

But the company said it would no longer use any state infrastructure when servicing its customers.

"This means that Movitel will not be dependent on the fibre-optic network of the public telecommunications company, TDM," said Conceicao.

Movitel has also depended on the government's infrastructure for its mobile networks, but it is looking to become more independent in that space as well.

"We now have our own equipment, base stations have been erected across the country, and most importantly, we offer low call rates and data services to our 3G and 2G," said Conceicao..

Conceicao said, to date, Movitel had built more than 1 800 mobile phone base stations across the country, a development he said represented more than 50% of all base stations existing.

The government of Mozambique awarded Movitel a licence in November 2010.

Movitel is a consortium between the Vietnamese group Viettel (which is wholly owned by the Vietnamese Defence Ministry) and SPI, the holding company of Mozambique’s ruling Frelimo Party.

Vittel owns 70% of Movitel.