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, Senegal appointed Cheikh Tidiane Sarr, a veteran from Sonatel and Orange Finances Mobiles Sénégal, as director general of the Telecommunications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARTP) by decree on September 10. Sarr, who succeeds Dahirou Thiam, brings extensive experience to the role. This appointment follows a legal victory for Sonatel, as Senegal's Supreme Court on September 14 temporarily suspended Starlink's operating authorization. Sonatel had filed a petition arguing that Starlink, which launched commercial internet services in February under a five-year ministerial permit granted in late 2025, benefits from an exemption from the substantial regulatory and financial obligations imposed on traditional tier-one licensees, thereby breaching competition rules and harming Sonatel's business. Earlier, on September 11, reports detailed Sonatel's challenge to the terms of Starlink's market entry, highlighting that the incumbent paid CFAF 134.5 billion for concession renewals, 4G spectrum, and 5G licenses, alongside nationwide coverage and service requirements.
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