Two new telecom brands, Expresso and O-Mobile, are preparing to launch into the Nigerian market.

Business Day reports that Sudatel, the state telecommunications company of Sudan, will operate as Expresso. The company recently bought a 70% stake in Intercellular for US$50 million (then valued at N6.2 billion).

Sudatel granted a $10 million loan to Intercellular about a year ago and paid $10 million to the company's shareholders for its 70% stake. It is also reported that Sudatel will inject $500 million into Intercellular within the next five years.

Prestel Satellite Communications, which previously had a presence in Edo State, has announced that it will operate as O-Mobile.

The two new operators both have Unified Access Licences that allows them to operate across fixed and mobile platforms. Both will also make use of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology.

According to the Nigerian Communications Commission, the number of the telephone subscribers currently stands at 67 million. There has recently been much debate among industry watchers on whether there is still space left for new operators given the large number of companies already participating in the sector.