Guinea-Bissau, situated on the west coast of Africa, is a small, tropical country characterised by a fragmented geography of islands and estuaries. This remote landscape poses a challenge for the implementation of standardised telecommunications and technology infrastructure. With a population of approximately 2 million people, the majority live in rural areas, further complicating the delivery of consistent and reliable telecommunications services. The Bijagos Archipelago, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is a particularly isolated region with unique infrastructure needs. Progress in the telecommunications sector has been slow, with the country still heavily reliant on outdated copper networks and limited mobile services. Innovations such as solar-powered mobile base stations and satellite communications are being explored to overcome the geographical and infrastructural challenges. The renewables sector is in its infancy, with potential for growth, particularly in solar and biomass technologies. The technology sector is still developing, hampered by the country's limited education and training opportunities, but a series of local tech hubs are aiming to foster local tech talent and innovation.
Mobile Network Operators
The are 2 companies operating mobile networks in this region.
Formerly Spacetel Guiné-Bissau S.A., founded in 1994, MTN Guinea Bissau is a wholly owned subsidiary of South African-based MTN Group. The parent company, MTN Group, was founded in 1994 as M-Cell with assistance from the South African government. It has grown to become one of the largest mobile network operators in the world, and the largest in Africa, with a presence in over 20 countries. As of 2002, the company's controlling shareholder was reported as Johnnic Holdings. In 2012, South African holding company Shanduka Group acquired a minority stake in MTN Group's Nigeria business.
Orange Bissau is the dominant of two mobile network operators in Guinea Bissau (Guinée Bissau). The company is majority owned (~90%) by Sonatel, itself a subsidiary of Orange Group (estimated Orange ownership ~38%), with the remaining 10% held privately. Established in 2007, Orange Guinea-Bissau has since been providing a range of telecommunication services within the country. The ownership of the company is vested in Orange S.A., making it part of one of the world's largest telecommunications conglomerates.