ARTP Senegal amends interconnection rules to boost competition

Senegal’s telecoms regulator the Agence de Regulation des Telecoms et Postes (ARTP) has implemented two new decisions to modify the scope of telecoms interconnection in the country, as it looks to drive competition in the local market. According to Agence Ecofin, the watchdog’s first decision is designed to identify operators with significant market power (SMP), and as such it has designated Sonatel, Tigo Senegal (Sentel) and Sudatel-owned Expresso as having SMP. The trio will now be required to approve a draft interconnection tariff plan within 30 days of the issuance of the decision. In the second amendment, ARTP has identified and ruled on a list of relevant markets in which the three operators are said to enjoy a dominant market position.