Senegal’s Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Posts (l’Autorite de Regulation des Telecommunications et des Postes, ARTP) announced on Monday that it has awarded a 5G licence to Saga Africa Holdings (operating under the Free band), after the company agreed to pay XOF13.5 billion (USD22.5 million) for the extension to its concession. Free becomes the country’s second operator to be granted a 5G licence, five months after Sonatel (Orange Senegal) bid a total of XOF34.5 billion for its authorisation during the regulator’s tendering process. Free and rival Expresso had submitted bids of XOF3 billion and XOF2 billion – far below the reserve price of XOF19.5 billion set by the ARTP.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, ARTP Director General Abdou Karim Sall revealed the regulator had opened negotiations with other operators ‘to allow them, depending on the means at their disposal, to be eligible for 5G’, with the cost determined by the quantity and quality of the frequencies awarded. Free had agreed to pay XOF13.5 billion for 90MHz of 3500MHz spectrum, he explained, whereas Sonatel had successfully bid a total of XOF34.5 billion to secure 10MHz in the more expensive 700MHz band and five additional blocks of frequencies.

The regulator also revealed Sonatel is planning to launch a pilot 5G service in February 2024, ahead of a commercial launch the following May.