(Ecofin Agency) - The virtual Mobile network operator Serius Telecoms Africa, owned by the businessman Mbackiyou Faye, officially launched its activities on January 31, 2019.  

The telecom firm was awarded its operating license in June 2017 after the public call for applications launched on April 12, 2017, by the telecommunications regulator.

Nine firms submitted their application for this license that was to be awarded to three companies. Serius Telecoms which was one of the three companies selected invested XOF300 million to use the Tigo network. However, it was nearly unable to launch its activities on the Senegalese market. Indeed, the regulator stopped the acquisition of that license following a contentious appeal submitted in June 2017 by Starlog, which was not selected. The regulator finally concluded that “no substantial violation has been noticed” during the operation.

By authorizing the entrance of the MVNO on Senegal’s telecom market, the government declared that it wanted to diversify telecom offers and foster competition for better service quality and beneficial costs.