Helios Towers extends investment in Senegal
The mobile market in Senegal became competitive three years after Sonatel launched GSM services in 1996. This second provider, Sentel, was later rebranded as Tigo Senegal before being rebranded again as Free Senegal in 2019. The introduction of competition heralded a dramatic growth in the number of mobile subscribers.
Tigo's parent company, MIC, in February 2017 aimed to sell the unit to the Wari Group for $129 million, and at the same time sell its 22% stake in Helios Towers Africa. Both transactions were in line with the company's focus on developing fixed and mobile data services in markets where it had a strong market share.
The deal with Wari Group failed to progress, and Tigo Senegal was instead sold to the Saga Africa Holdings consortium, operating since then under the Free brand.
Free sold its passive infrastructure assets (including 1,220 sites) to Helios Towers in 2020, in turn securing a 15-year lease on the infrastructure. In mid-2021, Helios
Towers Senegal began a $200 million investment program aimed at upgrading telecom coverage in Senegal through to 2026. As with investments made by Sonatel in recent years, this commitment forms part of Helios Towers contributing to the 2025 Digital Senegal plan, which is aimed at implementing ICT measures to boost economic productivity in the country.
Table of Contents
Key statistics- Regional Africa Market Comparison
- Market characteristics
- Market Leaders
- Market Challengers
- Market Emergents
- TMI vs GDP
- Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
- Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration
Country overview
- Telecommunications market
- Market analysis
Regulatory environment
- Regulatory authority
- Telecom sector reform
- Fixed-line developments
- Mobile network developments
Mobile market
- Market analysis
- Mobile statistics
- Mobile data
- Mobile infrastructure
- Major mobile operators
- Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)
- Mobile content and applications
Fixed-line broadband market
- Introduction and statistical overview
- Broadband statistics
- Fixed-line broadband technologies
Digital Economy
- E-health
- E-government
- E-commerce
Fixed network operators
- Orange Senegal
- Expresso Telecom
Telecommunications infrastructure
- Overview of the national telecom network
- National Research and Education Network (NREN)
- International infrastructure
- Data centres
- Smart infrastructure
Appendix Historic data
- Glossary of abbreviations
- Related reports
List of Tables
- Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Senegal 2022 (e)
- Table 2 Development of telecom revenue (XOF billion) 2012 2019
- Table 3 Change in the number of mobile number portings 2016 2019
- Table 4 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
- Table 5 Change in the market share of subscribers by operator 2012 2022
- Table 6 Change in the number of prepaid and contract subscribers 2012 2022
- Table 7 Mobile voice traffic per subscriber per month 2016 2022
- Table 8 Development of mobile voice traffic 2012 2022
- Table 9 Development of SMS traffic 2014 2022
- Table 10 Change in the number of SMS sent per month 2016 2022
- Table 11 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers 2012 2027
- Table 12 Change in the market share of mobile internet subscribers by operator 2012 2022
- Table 13 Change in market share of mobile internet subscribers by platform 2018 2022
- Table 14 Orange Senegal mobile broadband subscribers 2013 2018
- Table 15 Change in the number of Orange Senegal's mobile subscribers 2012 2022
- Table 16 Development of Orange Senegal's mobile revenue 2012 2021
- Table 17 Development of Orange Senegal's prepaid mobile ARPU 2012 2020
- Table 18 Growth in the number of Free's mobile subscribers 2012 2022
- Table 19 Growth in the number of Expresso's mobile subscribers 2012 2022
- Table 20 Growth in the number of Orange Money subscribers 2014 2021
- Table 21 Fixed broadband subscribers by alterative ISPs 2018 2022
- Table 22 Growth in the number of internet users in Senegal 2012 2022
- Table 23 Market share of internet connections by platform 2012 2022
- Table 24 Change in internet penetration by platform 2015 2021
- Table 25 Change in the number of internet subscribers by platform 2012 2022
- Table 26 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
- Table 27 Change in the number of fixed wireless internet subscribers 2012 2022
- Table 28 Change in the share of fixed wireless broadband market by operator (keys and data cards) 2013 2021
- Table 29 Development of Sonatel Group's financial results (XOF billion) 2012 2021
- Table 30 Development of Sonatel Group's revenue by type (XOF million) 2016 2021
- Table 31 Growth in the number of Sonatel Group's subscribers by platform 2014 2021
- Table 32 Development of Orange Senegal financials (XOF billion) 2012 2021
- Table 33 Change in Orange Senegal's fixed-line ARPU 2012 2019
- Table 34 Change in the number of fixed-lines in service and teledensity 2012 2027
- Table 35 Change in the market share of fixed-line subscribers by operator 2012 2022
- Table 36 International internet bandwidth in Senegal 2012 2017
- Table 37 Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration 2000 2011
- Table 38 Historic - Mobile voice traffic 2002 2011
- Table 39 Historic - Orange Senegal mobile subscribers 1999 2011
- Table 40 Historic - Orange Senegal blended mobile ARPU () 2012 2016
- Table 41 Historic - Internet users in Senegal 2000 2011
- Table 42 Historic - Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2007 2011
- Table 43 Historic - DSL and fibre subscribers in Senegal 2002 2011
- Table 44 Historic - Sonatel Group financial results (XOF billion) 2004 2011
- Table 45 Historic - Orange Senegal fixed-line ARPU 2004 2011
- Table 46 Historic - International internet bandwidth in Senegal 2002 2011
- Table 47 Historic - Fixed-lines in service and teledensity in Senegal 1999 2011
List of Charts
- Chart 1 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index Market Leaders
- Chart 2 Africa Market Leaders global ranking
- Chart 3 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index Market Challengers
- Chart 4 Africa Market Challengers global ranking
- Chart 5 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index Market Emergents
- Chart 6 Africa Market Emergents global ranking
- Chart 7 Africa Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
- Chart 8 Africa Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
- Chart 9 Africa Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
- Chart 10 Development of telecom revenue 2012 2019
- Chart 11 Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
- Chart 12 Change in the market share of subscribers by operator 2012 2022
- Chart 13 Change in the number of prepaid and contract subscribers 2012 2022
- Chart 14 Development of mobile voice traffic 2012 2022
- Chart 15 Development of SMS traffic 2014 2022
- Chart 16 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers 2012 2027
- Chart 17 Change in the market share of mobile internet subscribers by operator 2012 2022
- Chart 18 Change in the number of Orange Senegal's mobile subscribers 2012 2022
- Chart 19 Development of Orange Senegal's prepaid mobile ARPU 2012 2020
- Chart 20 Growth in the number of Free's mobile subscribers 2012 2022
- Chart 21 Growth in the number of Expresso's mobile subscribers 2012 2022
- Chart 22 Growth in the number of internet users in Senegal 2012 2022
- Chart 23 Change in the number of internet subscribers by platform 2012 2022
- Chart 24 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2012 2027
- Chart 25 Change in the share of fixed wireless broadband market by operator (keys and data cards) 2013 2022
- Chart 26 Development of Sonatel Group's financial results 2012 2021
- Chart 27 Development of Sonatel Group's revenue by type 2016 2021
- Chart 28 Growth in the number of Sonatel Group's subscribers by platform 2014 2021
- Chart 29 Development of Orange Senegal financials 2012 2021
- Chart 30 Change in Orange Senegal's fixed-line ARPU 2012 2019
- Chart 31 Change in the number of fixed-lines in service and teledensity in Senegal 2012 2027
List of Exhibits
- Exhibit 1 Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Africa
- Exhibit 2 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
- Exhibit 3 Africa Market Leaders and market developments
- Exhibit 4 Africa Market Challengers and market developments
- Exhibit 5 Africa Market Emergents and market developments
- Exhibit 6 Map of Senegal
- Exhibit 7 2Africa landing stations
