Ugandan fixed and mobile operator Smile Communications has reportedly been offline for several days, with the parent company moving to secure additional funding. The telco’s last post on Twitter from 2 February said it did not have a ‘definite timeline’ for service restoration and there have been no updates since then. TechJaja cites messages from a number of disgruntled customers. Meanwhile, a report from Business Day says Mauritius-based parent group Smile Telecoms Holdings has secured ZAR550 million (USD35.5 million) funding to shore up its operations, but questions remain over its long-term future.
In April 2021 Smile Telecoms Holdings had a restructuring plan approved by lenders, rescheduling debt repayments until after March 2022. The group was founded in 2007 and provides mobile and broadband services in Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Uganda has lost a number of telecoms providers in recent years, with the most high profile closure being that of number three mobile operator Africell in October. The market is dominated by MTN and Airtel, with smaller players struggling to maintain a foothold.
Uganda, Smile Communications (Uganda), Smile Telecoms Holdings, Corporate/Financial, Mobile, Fixed Broadband
