Millicom International Cellular (MIC) has paid the government of Senegal XOF50 billion (USD97.5 million) to extend the licence of its local mobile operation Tigo Senegal (formerly SENTEL.gsm) ending a dispute that dates back to 2008.
As reported by TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, in October this year MIC issued a brief statement confirming that it had finalised an agreement with the government to settle the long standing dispute over the validity of subsidiary Tigo Senegal’s operating licence in the country. The agreement, first announced in August this year, will mean that in addition to the Senegalese government recognising MIC’s mobile concession, the telco will be granted a 3G licence as well as receiving an update to its existing permissions, allowing it to offer WiMAX, fixed line and cable TV services. For its part, MIC agreed to pay an additional USD103 million over a series of instalments, with the total to be paid by December 2013. MIC has now received a ten-year extension to its licence, which is now due to expire in 2028.