It may come as a surprise to many to learn that DRC is currently the largest mobile market in Central and West Africa after Nigeria with more than 40 million subscribers. Nigeria would certainly do well to raise its neck and take a peep at the significant growth that is currently undergoing in DRC’s mobile market especially as one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators -- Orange -- signed an agreement today which will see to the telcos's acquisition of Millicom’s operations in the DRC (“Tigo DRC”).
Through this deal, Orange would significantly reinforce its presence in the DRC, hence becoming one of the leading mobile operators in the country and will create positive synergies. The acquisition seems to be fitting for Tigo DRC given the complementary nature of their operations both from a geographical and cultural standpoint.
This acquisition underlines Orange’s strategy in Africa which aims at developing and maintaining leading competitive positions across its various countries of operations on the continent.
Millicom's presence in Africa is not limited to the DRC. The telecoms and media company shares one-third stake in AIG, Rocket Internet's proxy in Africa, with MTN and Rocket Internet. AIG has 10 successful and fast-growing companies in more than 30 African countries under its watch.