Telecommunications engineering, IT and digital services company Sirius Telecom Afrique has penned a deal involving mobile virtual network services with Senegal’s incumbent national operator Sonatel.

The deal enables Sirius Telecom Afrique to roll out its voice and broadband internet services in Senegal, including the MVNO service Promobile, which leverages Sonatel’s 4G+ mobile network.

In a statement, Sirius Telecom Africa described the agreement as a step forward to provide Senegalese people with accessible, affordable quality digital services.

“We are also announcing innovative offers, responding to a community strategy adapted to the realities and needs of Senegalese populations,” the operator stated.

Sirius Telecom Africa is owned by entrepreneur Mbackiyou Fayewas and was officially launched in early 2019.

The company obtained its operating license in June 2017 and claims to have invested over US$500,000 in the country’s industry.

The aim of the MVNO license is to diversify Senegal’s telecom offerings and encourage competition for better service and competitive prices.

“The internet today, in a way, is a must for everyone. So, the more everyone uses it, I think that extending the base and reducing the charges can really reduce the real cost for both calls and data,” said Fayewas.

The company initially partnered with telecommunications services provider Free, but the companies parted ways over a tariff dispute that began in April 2019.

Free was subsequently sanctioned by the Telecommunications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARTP) in July.