Sonatel Group is a Publicly Owned company headquartered in Senegal, founded in 1985 with approximately 3730 employees, primarily operating in the telecoms sector. The company operates as an affiliate of France Telecom Group and maintains a presence in Mali, Guinee Bissau, and the Republic of Guinee.
On September 16, 2026, Senegal appointed Sonatel veteran Cheikh Tidiane Sarr as director general of the Telecommunications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARTP). Sarr, who previously held positions at Sonatel and Orange Finances Mobiles Sénégal, succeeded Dahirou Thiam by decree on September 10, following an application process launched in July. This appointment follows the Supreme Court's temporary suspension of Starlink's operating authorization in Senegal, a decision that telecom operator Sonatel obtained through a legal petition reported on September 14. Sonatel argued that Starlink, which launched commercial internet services in February 2026 under a five-year ministerial permit, is exempt from the significant regulatory and financial obligations imposed on traditional tier-one licensees, thereby breaching competition rules and harming Sonatel's business. Sonatel highlighted its own payments of CFAF 134.5 billion for concession renewals, 4G spectrum, and 5G licenses, alongside nationwide coverage and service requirements. This legal challenge emerges as Africa's fiber broadband market experiences faster growth, with increased operator investments in FTTP networks and rising consumer demand for higher internet speeds, despite challenges like competition from SpaceX’s Starlink, which continues to impact fiber operators.
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