Millicom

For the board game, see Bagha-Chall.

Millicom International Cellular S.A.

Type	Public (OMX: MIC SDB)
Industry	Mobile telecommunications
Founded	1990
Headquarters	Luxembourg
Products	Mobile networks (GSM, CDMA, TDMA, UMTS, Telecom services, WiMAX Broadband, Etc.
Website	TIGO, Millicom

Millicom International Cellular, also known as Tigo, is a mobile phone network provider in America and Africa. Based in Luxembourg, the company provides mobile services in 14 countries. With operations across Central America, South America, South-east Asia, and Africa, using GSM, CDMA and TDMA on America, GSM and UMTS over Africa. Millicom also is the owner of Amnet, a company that provides cable television and broadband internet services in Costa Rica, Honduras and El Salvador; additionally the company provides corporate data services in Guatemala and Nicaragua.

America

Guatemala

TIGO was launched in Guatemala in 2004, to replace the old national brands COMCEL and Amigo de COMCEL with a new international brand. TIGO Guatemala is Guatemala's largest mobile operator with more than 5 million users since August 2009. It competes with international operators like Movistar (Telefonica) and Claro (America Movil), using technologies AMPS/TDMA (now shut down) and GSM/GPRS/EDGE both over 850 MHz. TIGO Guatemala already launched commercially UMTS/HSPA over 850 MHz in 2008.

El Salvador

TIGO was launched in El Salvador in 2004, to replace the old national brand TELEMOVIL with a new international brand. TIGO El Salvador is the largest mobile operator with more than 2.4 million users. It competes with international operators like Movistar (Telefonica), Claro (America Movil), Digicel (Digicel Group) and Red (Infonet), using GSM/GPRS and 3G technologies both over 850 MHz.

Honduras

TIGO was launched in Honduras in 2004, to replace the old national brand CELTEL, that had been founded on September 15, 1996, with a new international brand. TIGO Honduras, in a country of 8 million inhabitants with an 87% mobile penetration rate has a total 4.5 million users.^[1] It competes with international operators Claro (America Movil), Digicel (Digicel Group) and government owned operator Hondutel, using GSM/GPRS and UMTS (HSDPA) 3G both over 850 MHz. Now shutdown technologies include AMPS and CDMA.

Paraguay

TIGO was launched in Paraguay in 2004, to replace the old national brand TELECEL with a new international brand. TIGO Paraguay is the largest mobile operator with more than 2.8 million users. It competes with international operators like Personal (Telecom Argentina / Telecom Italia), Claro (America Movil) and VOX (KDDI), using technologies GSM/EDGE and WCDMA/HSDPA both over 850 MHz.

Bolivia

TIGO was launched in Bolivia in 2005, to replace the old national brand TELECEL BOLIVIA with a new international brand. TIGO Bolivia is the second mobile operator with more than 1.3 million users. It competes with international operators like Entel (Telecom Italia), and Nuevatel PCS, using technologies AMPS/TDMA (to be shut down) and GSM/GPRS both over 850 MHz. Tigo is the first company in Bolivia to provide 3G technology.

Colombia

TIGO was launched in Colombia in 2006, to replace the old national brand of Colombia Móvil OLA, with the entrance of Millicom as new partner with 51%. TIGO Colombia started operations with 3.6 million users. It competes with international operators like COMCEL (America Movil) and Movistar(Telefonica), using technologies GSM/GPRS/EDGE over 1900 MHz.

Africa

Chad

TIGO was launched in Chad in 2007, to replace the old national brand with a new international brand. It competes with international operator Zain, using technologies GSM/GPRS/EDGE over 900 MHz.

Congo DRC

TIGO was launched in Democratic Republic of Congo in 2007, to replace the old national brand OASIS with a new international brand. It competes with international operators like Celtel, Supercell, Vodacom and Congo Chine Telecom, using technologies GSM/GPRS/EDGE over 1800 MHz.

Ghana

In July 2011, Millicom Ghana Limited announced that their Tigo mobile network in that country was launching a 3.5G Internet broadband facility.^[2]

Mauritius

Operates under Emtel brands. It is currently owned by Albert Addo. A Ghanaian.

Rwanda

Operates under Tigo brand (licenced in 2008). It competes with Rwandacell (MTN) and Rwandatel.

Sierra Leone

TIGO was launched in Sierra Leone in 2006, to replace the old national brand with a new international brand. It competes with international operators like Celtel, Comium, Africell and Datatel GSM, using technologies GSM/GPRS/EDGE over 900 MHz. Millicom sold its Sierra Leone subsidiary to Africell Holding (Lintel group) on 29 July 2009.^[3]

Senegal

TIGO was launched in Senegal in 2006, to replace the old national brand SENTEL GSM with a new international brand. It competes with international operators like ORANGE (Sonatel) and Expresso (Sudatel), using technologies GSM/GPRS/EDGE over 900 and 1800 MHz.

Tanzania

In Tanzania the brand TIGO was launched in 2006 after Millicom International Cellular decided to take full control of its Tanzanian network operator MIC Tanzania Limited (Mobitel),^[4] by buying out its local shareholders. It competes using technologies GSM/GPRS/EDGE over 900 MHz.

Discontinued operations

South Asia

Sri Lanka

Mobile telephony was introduced to Sri Lanka by Celltel Lanka limited (subsidiary of Millicom International Cellular) in 1989 as CELLTEL on a Motorola TACS system and Sri Lanka was the first country in south Asia to introduce this service. In 2007 CELLTEL was rebranded to TIGO and also introduced per second billing for the first time in Sri Lankan mobile history. TIGO Sri Lanka reportedly has a national market share of 21 percent with 2.2 million subscribers. TIGO Sri Lanka is second-largest mobile phone operator in 2009. Millicom sold its Sri Lankan operation on 16th October 2009.

External links

Official Sites

• Millicom International
• TIGO GLOBAL

TIGO local sites

• Latin America
  • TIGO Colombia
  • TIGO Guatemala
  • TIGO El Salvador
  • TIGO Honduras
  • TIGO Paraguay
  • TIGO Bolivia
• Africa
  • TIGO Chad
  • TIGO Congo DRC
  • TIGO Ghana
  • Emtel (Mauritius)
  • TIGO Rwanda
  • TIGO Senegal
  • TIGO Tanzania

References

1. ^ Millicom Q3 2009 Investor Presentation
2. ^ "Tigo launches 3.5G Internet," Ghana News Agency, 9 July 2011.
3. ^ Africell Holding acquires Millicom Sierra Leone
4. ^ Millicom buys out Mobitel Tanzania

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