(Ecofin Agency) - Mobile operator Expresso Senegal will sign today its agreement on the acquisition of the 4G license. The ceremony, which will be held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Finance and Budget, will be attended by the Minister of Digital Economy and Telecommunications, the Director of the Telecommunications and Posts Regulatory Agency (ARTP), and the CEO of Expresso Senegal.

The new deal will give the company all the regulatory assurances relating to the continued deployment of mobile broadband technology. By 2022, Expresso Senegal wants to cover 80% of the population with its 4G.

Expresso Senegal's move comes almost ten weeks after it launched its 4G services on the market. After several months of negotiations, the company finally got the green light from the telecom regulator to offer the technology to Senegalese on February 26. This was on the sidelines of a visit to the country by a strong delegation from the Sudanese telecoms group led by Magdi Taha, Sudatel's chief executive officer. He was received by the President of the Republic Macky Sall.

With its license agreement in hand, Expresso Senegal will be able to cover many large cities. The company, which is two years behind Sonatel and Free, in 4G, firmly believes that it can get back into the race. In December 2020, it held 18.96% of the market share, according to ARTP data.

Muriel Edjo