Sonatel CEO Mr. Brelot Ba, leading a large delegation, visited Serigne Babacar Sy Mansour, the General Caliph of Tidianes, in Tivaouane, this Tuesday, September 2, 2025, as part of the close partnership his company maintains with religious cities. The visit is an important moment, as the Gamou celebration approaches.

According to Mr. Ba, on the occasion of Mawloud-Al-Nabi (Gamou) 2025, a major religious event of the Islamic Ummah, celebrated in the religious cities of Tivaouane, Médina Baye and Léona Niassène in Kaolack, Thiénaba and Ndiassane, Sonatel is deploying a comprehensive system combining technological innovation, social support and local actions.

The National Telecommunications Company intends to respond to the exceptional turnout for this major religious event, while reaffirming its commitment to the Tidian community, the Ummah, and, more broadly, all Senegalese people. This initiative, the CEO said, is part of the group's corporate social responsibility strategy, which combines digital inclusion, community support, and assistance to religious and administrative authorities in organizing major national events.

A reinforced network for a connected Gamou

To ensure seamless connectivity for pilgrims and residents, Sonatel has mobilized unprecedented technical resources. In Tivaouane: deployment of 31 5G antennas in the heart of the city, 560% increase in 4G+ capacity, installation of 89 4G++ sites and 28 new 3G sites, as well as a 42% increase in 2G capacity. The great mosque benefits from full telephone, Internet, and Wi-Fi coverage.

In Medina Baye and Léona Niassène (Kaolack): installation of 16 5G antennas, generalization of 4G++ (mMIMO 2600/1800) and increase in network capacity: +235% on 4G+, +91% on other technical levels and +31% on 2G. Free Wi-Fi zones have been set up to improve the pilgrims' experience.

Across all Gamou sites, the core network has been optimized to ensure high-quality communications in terms of customer experience: calls, SMS, mobile Internet and financial services such as Orange Money.

Indeed, underlines the CEO of Sonatel, human capital is deployed massively in all religious cities on the ground to take care of the needs of pilgrims in terms of communication services or financial transactions through Orange Money or Orange Bank.

Sonatel serving communities

Beyond connectivity, Sonatel has sought to strengthen its role as a corporate citizen working closely with religious families and pilgrims, providing equipment for the reception and hygiene of pilgrims: water tanks, vests, gloves, masks, hand basins, buckets, basins, and mats. Distribution, in partnership with Kirène, of more than 110,000 bottles of mineral water to religious families.

On the health front, the Sonatel foundation handed over a large batch of medicines to the Regional Health Directorate, in order to strengthen the medical care of pilgrims in Tivaouane, Ndiassane, Thiénéba and Kaolack.

These actions, according to Mr. Ba, demonstrate Sonatel's desire to contribute directly to the well-being of the faithful and to relieve the burden on local health and administrative authorities.

Digital inclusion and youth empowerment

Gamou is also an opportunity to promote innovation and digital inclusion. In Tivaouane, a hackathon was held on August 31 and September 1, 2025, at the Seydil El Hadj Malick Sy complex, on the theme "Digital technology at the service of Hadara," bringing together young talents and players in the digital ecosystem in partnership with Zawiya Tidianyya.

In Medina Baye (Kaolack), the Orange Digital Center deployed its mobile training unit from September 8 to 11, 2025. Over four days, 120 beneficiaries took part in 12 practical workshops to strengthen their digital skills and improve their employability.

These initiatives are part of Sonatel's desire to contribute to the empowerment of young people and women, by offering them concrete opportunities for professional integration.

Support for the media and proximity to the authorities

Aware of the central role of the media in covering Gamou, Sonatel has made available "seven dedicated links and 27 temporary lines for the Organizing Committee"; "press areas connected by fiber optics"; "press kits and Illimix packages to facilitate the work of journalists and coordination teams."

The operator also worked closely with administrative and religious authorities. A dedicated monitoring committee, working with local authorities, was established to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of the actions.

A reaffirmed commitment

Through this exceptional initiative, Sonatel reaffirms its commitment to the values of solidarity, sharing, and progress. The company intends to continue its commitment by supporting not only religious families, but also all administrative and community stakeholders involved in the success of Gamou.

By multiplying technical, social and digital initiatives, the Sonatel group reaffirms its vision of broader inclusion, where innovation becomes a tool serving faith, communion, living together and development.

Orange Money and Orange Bank Africa at the service of the faithful

Up to Gamou, transfers to and within the religious towns of Tivaouane, Léona Niassène and Médina Baye are free (for transactions of up to 500,000 F). Orange Money also reimburses fuel payments to its oil partners to facilitate the transport of pilgrims.

Oxen will also be donated to the residents of these towns to help them prepare for the Gamou. In addition, the third edition of Waagnu Orange Money will be rolled out on the day of the Gamou, in support of popular initiatives to provide free meals to thousands of pilgrims.

Orange Bank Africa, the 100% mobile bank, is committed to supporting its customers to facilitate access to credit and savings. Through its Tik Tak offering via Orange Money, it provides instant microloans, accessible directly from a mobile phone. In addition, local initiatives will be deployed on the ground to support, inform, and guide people on innovative banking solutions.