Guinea: Authorities are interested in reviving the private telecoms operator Cellcom
July 23rd 2026
The Guinean government is relying on digital technology to accelerate its socio-economic development. This requires a competitive telecoms market, driven by operators capable of providing individuals, businesses, and public administrations with reliable, high-quality services.
In Guinea, the relaunch of the private mobile phone operator Cellcom is a source of concern for the authorities. Having declined for several years, the company is seeking to regain momentum in a market where it competes with Orange Guinea and MTN Guinea (Areeba).
The issue was at the heart of a meeting held on Tuesday, July 21, between the Minister of Communication, Digital Economy and Innovation, Mourana Soumah (pictured), and the management of the operator. This meeting is part of a series of consultations undertaken with stakeholders in the sector, following discussions with Orange Guinea and the Internet service provider ETI.
According to a statement from the ministry, discussions with Cellcom’s Director General, Souleymane Thiam, focused on the recovery actions already undertaken by the company, the technical difficulties it faces, and its infrastructure needs.
“I reminded him of our requirements: sustained investment, improved service quality, and expanded network coverage. I expect concrete results, within the framework of the Simandou 2040 vision, and I will personally follow up in the coming weeks ,” the minister stated on social media. He emphasized that the objective is to guarantee users reliable and efficient telecommunications services.
Between social, financial and technical crises, an operator is losing momentum
This initiative comes as Cellcom faces a new period of turbulence. The operator is in conflict with some of its employees, who are denouncing what they consider unfair dismissals, delayed salary payments, mismanagement, and the failure of management to honor several commitments.
In December 2025, the local press reported that the company’s premises had been closed by its landlord, WAQF-BID, due to two to three years of unpaid rent estimated at 14 billion Guinean francs (approximately US$1.6 million). The operator ultimately obtained the reopening of its headquarters following a court ruling.
In a statement dated April and relayed by the local press, Cellcom acknowledged facing a gradual erosion of its revenues, resulting among other things from the obsolescence of a significant part of its network infrastructure, which no longer allowed it to guarantee a level of service quality in line with industry standards and consumer expectations.
Thus, the Independent Telecommunications Trade Union Federation (FESATEL) announced in April its intention to formally petition the authorities to demand an audit of Cellcom and, if necessary, its placement under provisional administration. It also does not rule out the company’s liquidation, accompanied by the reassignment of employees to other companies in the sector.
A marked decline in the market
By the end of June 2025, Cellcom held only 2.4% of the 12.8 million mobile phone subscriptions recorded by the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPT). In the mobile internet market, its market share had fallen to just 1.9%, far behind Orange Guinea and MTN Guinea (Areeba).
These figures illustrate Cellcom’s gradual decline in the Guinean market over the last decade. In mobile telephony, its market share fell from 20% in 2015 to 11.5% in 2020, then to 6.3% in 2024, before dropping to 2.4% by the end of June 2025. In mobile internet, it fell from 26% in 2014 to 15.88% in 2020, 11.04% in 2021, 6% in 2024, and then to 1.9% by the end of June 2025. It should be noted, however, that even when it held nearly a quarter of the mobile internet market in the mid-2010s, Cellcom already occupied third place behind Orange Guinea and Areeba, but at that time enjoyed a significantly stronger competitive position.
This decline is also reflected in the operator’s financial performance. In the second quarter of 2025, Cellcom reported revenues of 5 billion Guinean francs, compared to 14 billion a year earlier. The company thus represented only 0.23% of the 2,237 billion Guinean francs in revenue generated by all mobile phone operators during the period.
A recovery contingent upon investment
To try to reverse this trajectory, Cellcom stated in its April press release that it had embarked on a transformation phase aimed at restoring its operational stability and competitiveness. The company indicated that the ongoing organizational adjustment measures, including the targeted redundancy program and negotiated departures, should help improve its financial balance while ensuring business continuity.
The telecoms operator is also focusing on securing its regulatory framework, following the granting of a new operating license effective since the beginning of the year. This step should allow it to launch a network modernization program, including the gradual replacement of certain equipment and the development of new capacities, including 4G.
This prospect, however, raises several questions, particularly regarding the ability to secure the necessary funding to support this modernization program, in a context marked by declining revenues and a shrinking subscriber base. It also remains to be seen whether the investments made will allow the operator to sustainably improve its service quality, strengthen its competitive position, and regain consumer confidence in a market largely dominated by Orange Guinea.
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