Helios Towers Africa

Sep 7, 2022

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 teh country. Key Topics Covered: