Senegal’s Sonatel books net profit of XOF91bn in H1 2013

Senegal-based fixed and mobile operator Sonatel, a 42.30%-owned subsidiary of the Orange Group, has reported consolidated net profit of XOF91.559 billion (USD186.5 million) for the first six months of this year, up 5.21% from the XOF87.019 billion figure reported in January-June 2012. The Group, which also has operations in Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Mali, said consolidated revenue also improved, growing by 10.3% over the same period to XOF356.824 billion from XOF323.619 billion. The strong performance were driven by a recovery in Mali where Sonatel noted that the resolution of the political crisis there has resulted ‘in positive effects on the macroeconomic situation’, and a return to growth in terms of both subscribers and sales. Further, in Guinea Sonatel noted that Orange has become the market leader with a near 42% market share at mid-2013, as it deployed 58 new cell sites and boosted its user base to over 2.4 million. Meanwhile, in Guinea-Bissau the Group said that ‘despite the instability of the political situation, Orange has taken part of the market share from the main competitor (4 points) and keeps improving its financial performance’. As at 30 June 2013 the Group reported an overall customer base of 20.171 million, compared with 15.895 million a year earlier, broken down as 19.767 million mobile users, 285,209 (fixed line) and 117,989 (internet subscribers. In its home market Sonatel had 7.362 million mobile subscribers at end-June 2013, up 16% year-on-year, while in Mali the cellular base climbed 24% to 9.502 million. Strong rises were also reported in Guinea (25% y-o-y) to 2.470 million and Guinea-Bissau (+42%) to 431,196.