Millicom


Millicom International Cellular SA is an international telecommunications and media company, founded by Shelby Bryan, Jan Stenbeck, Telma Sosa, and Olvin Galdamez. It offers a wide range of digital services to more than 51 million customers primarily under the Tigo brand in eleven markets in Africa and Latin America. Tigo comes from contigo in Spanish, which means "with you".
Millicom was one of the earliest pioneers of mass consumer mobile telephony and was formed in 1990 when Millicom Incorporated merged with the Swedish investment company Investment AB Kinnevik. Since then, the firm has seen annual revenue grow to $6.02 billion, driven mainly by mobile phone services and, increasingly, by data, with an expanding portfolio of cable, satellite, broadband, B2B, Mobile Financial Services and other media.
The same year, Millicom announced a new business strategy around monetising data and building cable, with the stated ambition to become the second largest pay-TV operator in Spanish-speaking Latin America. Millicom's cable footprint grew in 2015 to 7.6 million homes passed and exceeded nine million by the end of 2017.
The company's Mobile Financial Services account for more than 40 percent of the total number of active mobile money subscribers in Latin America. In Africa, Millicom set up the continent's first ever universal interoperable mobile money network through its Tigo Pesa brand in Tanzania that includes Airtel, Zantel and Vodacom. Tanzania is considered to be a world leader in terms of mobile money customization.
Millicom employs 18,802 people, has corporate offices in London, Miami and Luxembourg, and is listed on NASDAQ OMX Stockholm under the symbol MIC_SDB.

History

Millicom originated as a company set up by Jan Stenbeck to operate voice and data distribution networks via cellular radio. In Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. it received one of three of the first cellular development licenses awarded by the FCC.
After two years of planning, the company began operations when the founders completed a $131,000 share purchase in May 1982. The firm took over paging company Meta Systems in October 1982 and then raised $9 million in its first round of financing, managed by Chief Executive Officer, Orhan Sadik-Khan and Kevin Kimberlin.
Since 92% of the world population had no phone service at the time, Millicom promoted mobile technology on a global basis. To do this, Millicom created joint-ventures with local and strategic partners.
On 13 December 1982, a joint-venture with Racal Electronics was awarded a cellular license for Great Britain. To enable Millicom to earn its 10% royalty from Racal-Millicom, a controlling shareholder, Stenbeck commissioned a startup with two employees, Technophone, to develop the world's first pocket-sized mobile phone. Highlighting its plans to offer the Voice and Data phone, his Racal-Millicom joint-venture was renamed Vodafone.
On 12 October 1983, Millicom Inc. created China Telecom Systems, a joint-venture with partners China Resources Ltd. and Comvik, a Swedish mobile firm also controlled by Jan Stenbeck. China Telecom held the first cellular telephone contract in China, making its service available to the public on 20 May 1985.
In December 1989, Millicom set up Microtel Communications Ltd. by teaming up with Pacific Telesis and British Aerospace Microtel was awarded a personal communication network license to compete with Vodafone in Great Britain, a service launched on 28 April 1994 under its brand name, Orange. This venture was acquired in October 1999, at which time Orange and its new parent, Mannesmann, were in turn both taken over by Vodafone. At a value of $202 billion, the takeover of Mannesmann by Vodafone was the largest transaction in corporate history. Orange was then sold to France Telecom, which subsequently changed its corporate name to Orange.
To better manage their respective mobile interests, Millicom Inc. combined with Comvik's international cellular operations to become Millicom International Cellular SA in 1990, which now operates under the laws of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

Latin America

Guatemala

Tigo launched in 2004, replacing former national brands COMCEL and Amigo de COMCEL to become the country's largest mobile operator with more than nine million customers and market share of 53.4 percent. Mobile penetration is estimated at 112 percent with internet penetration at 27 percent. Tigo also provides mobile financial services through Tigo Money, as well as broadband, cable and business solutions. Millicom equity holding 55 percent.

El Salvador

Tigo launched in 2004 to replace the former national brand Telemovil and is now the country's largest mobile operator with three million customers and a market share of 37.8 percent. Tigo is also El Salvador's largest broadband and cable service provider and offers satellite DTH services, mobile financial services under the brand Tigo Money, as well as corporate and B2B solutions. Millicom equity holding is 100 percent.

Honduras

Tigo launched in 2004 to replace the former national brand CELTEL. It is now the leading mobile service provider in a country of eight million, with an estimated 4.8 million customers. Its mobile market share is placed at 66 percent. Tigo also offers broadband, cable, business, satellite, mobile health insurance and financial services. Millicom equity holding is 66.7 percent.

Paraguay

Tigo launched in 2004 and is now the largest mobile operator with 3.8 million subscribers from a population of 6.7 million. Tigo Home has become market leader for pay TV and fixed broadband services since its launch in 2014, alongside Millicom's first DTH satellite service. Tigo's mobile market share is 56.4 percent. Other key services and products fall under the Tigo Business brand and under Tigo Sports and Tigo Money. Millicom equity holding is 100 percent.

Exclusive Channels of Tigo TV Paraguay

Tigo Sports

Launched in 1994 as a Pay TV Channel and Digital sports content provider, this was the first sports media launched in all operations in Millicom. Originally known as Teledeportes Paraguay, a sports producing company that evolved into broadcast of events and programs 24/7. Its headquarters named "Tigo Sports Media House" is based in Fernando de la Mora and is among the best equipped studios in the region with 2 studios of 400 sq mts. Tigo Sports owns its own fleet of OB Vans and has over 150 employees.
Sportive Events of Tigo Sports and Tigo Sports Plus
Other international sports rights that were part of the grid included:
Launched in 1992 as a pay-per-view channel
Sportive events of Tigo Max

Tigo SAT Network

Launched in January 1995 as a 24-hour variety Pay TV channel.
Telenovelas broadcast on Tigo SAT Network
Unicanal was a 24-hour Pay TV cable purchased in October 2012 by the merger with Cablevision Paraguay. It began operations on 15 December 1989, when it started broadcasting at 5:45 AM.
During its time as propriety of Tigo Paraguay, genres included in the grid included News, Entertainment, Realities, Health, Magazines, alternating between local content and argentinian content provided by El Trece Argentina
In February 2014, local soccer broadcast was translated from Unicanal to Tigo's new Pay TV cable, Tigo Sports, dedicated to sports 24/7.
In February 2015, Tigo sold the operations of Unicanal to JBB Group, a company owner of Radio Disney, specialized in media, entertainment, distribution and in real estate.

Nicaragua

Tigo operates in Nicaragua - formed from the merger of Navega & Amnet in 2013 and compete with three other corporate network operators that combine mobile voice, 3G, 4G Networks and cable broadband.
At may 2020, the acquisition of Movistar operations in the central american country was completed, becoming the second largest mobile carrier in the country under the name of Tigo Nicaragua.

Costa Rica

TigoStar is the country's leading pay TV operator with more than 30 years of service under different brand names dating back to Millicom's acquisition of Amnet in 2008.

Bolivia

Tigo launched in 2005 by a merger with TELECEL and is now the second largest mobile operator in Bolivia with more than 3.4 million customers. Tigo Bolivia competes with Entel and Nuevatel PCS. Branded services include Tigo Money, Tigo Star and Tigo Sports, Tigo Business and Tigo Smart. In 2014, Bolivia launched Millicom's first satellite DTH service. Millicom equity holding is 100 percent.

Colombia

launched in 2006 and is Colombia's third largest mobile service provider with more than seven million customers. Its services include Tigo Money and UNE internet and broadband, with significant further market penetration anticipated in 2014 following a Merger Framework Agreement signed in 2013 with UNE EPM Telecomunicaciones, of the Empresas Publicas de Medellin group. Millicom also has a growing portfolio online in retail and services. Equity holding is 50 percent plus one share.
Exclusive Channels of TigoStar Colombia:
Genre: Sports
Broadcasting: 24 Hours
Launched: 7 April 2014 at 05:00
Description: The Colombian Second Sports Channel with sports broadcasting rights including: Categoria Primera C, Copa Colombia, Premier League, Greek Super League

Africa

Chad

Tigo launched in 2005 and is now the country's leading mobile service provider with 2.65 million customers from a population of 12.4 million. While mobile penetration is estimated at 40.2 percent, Mobile Financial Services have launched strongly. Tigo's mobile market share of the market is estimated at 53.8 percent. Millicom equity holding is 100 percent.
On 27 June 2019 it was announced that Tigo's operations in Chad were purchased by Maroc Telecom.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Tigo DRC launched in 2007 and is the country's second-largest mobile service provider. In Q1 2014 it reported more than four million customers. In 2013 it returned to the troubled eastern Kivu region, and is expanding further into neighbouring Katanga province. Tigo Cash Mobile Financial Services were launched in 2012. Mobile penetration DRC is estimated at 49.1 percent. Tigo DRC holds 30.4 percent of market share. Millicom equity holding is 100 percent.
On 8 February 2016 it was announced that Orange were acquiring Tigo DRC subject to regulatory approval.

Ghana

Tigo is one of six leading mobile service providers competing in Ghana. It numbers 3.7 million customers – more than 17 percent of market share. Mobile penetration is estimated at 81.2 percent. Tigo Ghana's mobile financial services team has won notable recognition and awards for products and deployment. Millicom equity holding is 100 percent.
In March 2017 it was announced that Millicom and Airtel had signed an agreement to combine operations in Ghana subject to regulatory approval.

Rwanda

Tigo is Rwanda's second largest mobile service provider and the first to offer 3G internet. In 2014 Millicom opened a tech incubator in the capital Kigali to develop new digital solutions for Africa. Q2 2014 reported more 2.2 million customers and a mobile market share of 40.5 percent. Mobile penetration is estimated at 49.7 percent. Millicom equity holding is 87.5 percent.
In December 2017 it was announced that Millicom and Airtel had signed an agreement to combine operations in Rwanda subject to regulatory approval.

Senegal

Tigo Senegal launched in 2006 and is the second largest mobile service provider, with 3.2 million customers. Mobile penetration is estimated at 73.1 percent with Tigo's mobile market share placed at 31.3 percent. Heavy investment through 2013/2014 has led to expanded and improved networks and the licence granted in 2014 to pilot 4G technology. Millicom has presence in online and mobile financial services. Millicom equity holding is 100 percent.
In February 2017 it was announced that Wari Group were acquiring Tigo Senegal subject to regulatory approval.
Tigo Sénégal was sold to a Group named Saga Africa Holdings in April 2018; then renamed Free Sénégal in October 2019.

Tanzania

is Tanzania's second largest mobile services provider, with more than 11 million customers. More than 46 percent of tigo Tanzania customers use MFS. Tigo Tanzania was also the first service provider in East Africa to offer free Facebook data downloading. Its mobile market share is placed at 29.8 percent. Mobile penetration in Tanzania is estimated to be 47.3 percent. In 2015, Millicom completed the acquisition of an 85% stake in Zanzibar Telecom

Tigo Cash

Tigo Cash is a mobile phone–based money transfer service offered with Tigo phones in eleven countries including Tanzania, Rwanda, and Ghana.