Overview of Africell
Africell is a pan-African mobile operator in four countries south of the Sahara: Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), The Gambia, and Sierra Leone. The group has more than 16 million users. In Sierra Leone it leads the market, with about 2.25 million active users and about 65% share. The Gambia has about 1.1 million users, also about 65% share. In the DRC it has about 3.6 million users and is the largest operator. Angola received a licence and started service in 2021. In 2018 Africell took a USD 100 million loan from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) for expansion, including mobile payments and upgrades from 2G to 4G.
For businesses it offers IoT connectivity in these markets and ties that connectivity to mobile payments, aimed at smaller companies and agricultural sensors.
Africell facts
- Founded: 2001 (started in The Gambia)
- Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
- Markets: Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo, The Gambia, Sierra Leone
- Group users: More than 16 million
- Sierra Leone: About 2.25 million, 65% share
- The Gambia: About 1.1 million, 65% share
- DRC: About 3.6 million, largest operator
- Angola: Entered in 2021 and still expanding
Development History and Milestones
Africell started in The Gambia in 2001, then entered Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2012 the DRC business became the market leader. By the end of 2013 the group had more than 7 million users, and the 2014 target was 11 million. In 2018 a USD 100 million DFC loan funded further expansion. In 2021 it received a mobile licence in Angola and planned to invest several hundred million dollars to open the network. Africell concentrates on these West African markets and is known for price competition and local service.
Core Technical Capabilities
Four markets
Angola, the DRC, The Gambia, and Sierra Leone
Market position
About 65% share in Sierra Leone and in The Gambia
DFC Support
A USD 100 million loan for network and payment upgrades
Angola Expansion
Entered in 2021, with an investment of several hundred million dollars
IoT Applications
Africell offers mobile IoT connectivity in its four markets. 4G is deployed in major cities for smart metering, asset tracking, and agricultural monitoring. Pairing mobile payments with IoT covers uses such as vending machines and shared devices. Smaller businesses and agricultural IoT are the main targets.
Competitive Advantages
- Local position: Market leader in Sierra Leone and The Gambia, and the largest operator in the DRC
- Price: Competes on price and has pushed tariffs down
- DFC loan: U.S. development-finance funding, which also shapes capital and compliance
- Angola: A newer market, still in the growth phase