Kirene avec Orange

What Kirene avec Orange does

Kirene avec Orange, operating through the legal entity KMOB SA (KIRENE MOBILE), is a Senegalese mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) and brand licensee of Orange (SONATEL). Launched in 2009 as a partnership between Groupe KIRENE (Siagro) and SONATEL, it is described as the first brand and distribution license in Africa for mobile telephony. The company is a subsidiary of the pan-African Groupe Farès conglomerate and is headquartered in Dakar with a staff of 53.

Its product portfolio centers on prepaid mobile services targeting cost-conscious Senegalese consumers. Core offers are Mixel (bundled voice, SMS and data plans from 90F to 2,490F), Surfel (data-only passes from 200F to 15,000F for daily, weekly and monthly use), Wotel (voice bundles), Sunu Roaming (international roaming across Africa, Europe, Americas and Asia), Sunu SIM (physical SIM at 500F and eSIM at 2,000F), and Orange Money mobile financial services. Service management runs primarily through USSD codes (#220#, #1234#, #144#, #166#, #123#, #116#) and the Max it consumer application, sitting on top of SONATEL's 4G+ network which covers approximately 100% of Senegalese territory.

Kirene makes money through usage-based prepaid airtime, data and voice bundle sales, supplemented by one-time SIM/eSIM activation fees and roaming usage. Distribution combines owned retail agencies in Dakar and Touba, partner boutiques (e.g., Saint-Louis), regional distributors, a mobile field promoter force called PPK (Promoteurs Puce Kirène), and self-service via USSD and the Max it app. Marketing is digital-first with a strong presence on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn, and is anchored in a localized "Made in Senegal / Nio Far" brand positioning. No revenue, subscriber counts or external funding data are publicly disclosed.

Name

Kirene avec Orange

Legal name

KMOB SA (KIRENE MOBILE)

Website

https://kireneavecorange.sn

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kirene avec Orange (KMOB SA) is a Senegalese MVNO and brand licensee of SONATEL/Orange, launched in 2009, offering prepaid mobile voice, SMS, data, eSIM and roaming bundles to cost-conscious Senegalese consumers via USSD, the Max it app and a multi-tier retail and field-promoter distribution network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dakar

HQ country

Senegal

HQ region

Africa

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Mobile Airtime and Credit Sales: Prepaid mobile airtime sales where customers purchase credit recharges to use voice, SMS, and data services. Primary revenue stream from ongoing customer recharges.
2. Data Passes (Surfel): Internet data packages sold at various price points (200F to 15000F) with different durations (daily, weekly, monthly) and data volumes. Consumable passes consumed through usage.
3. Voice and SMS Packages (Mixel, Wotel): Bundled voice and SMS packages combining calls to all networks, SMS, and internet. Mixel offers range from 90F (24H) to 2490F (30 days) with varying minutes and data allowances. Wotel offers voice-focused packages at 290F and 990F.
4. International Roaming Services: Roaming services for customers traveling abroad to Africa, Europe, America, and Asia. Pay-as-you-go rates and travel pass packages available at various price points.
5. SIM and eSIM Sales: Sales of physical SIM cards (Sunu SIM at 500F) and eSIM (at 2000F) including starter packs with bonus data and minutes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Kirene avec Orange is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in Senegal that operates as a brand licensee of Orange (SONATEL), providing prepaid mobile telecommunications services to Senegalese consumers. The company sells bundled voice, SMS, and data plans (Mixel, Surfel, Wotel), international roaming (Sunu Roaming), SIM and eSIM products (Sunu SIM), and access to Orange Money mobile financial services. Services are distributed through USSD self-service codes, the Max it mobile application, owned retail agencies, partner boutiques, regional distributors, and a field promoter network (PPK).

Product overview

Kirene avec Orange is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) operating as a brand licensee of Orange (SONATEL) in Senegal. Launched in 2009, it is Africa's first brand and distribution license in mobile telephony. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of prepaid mobile services including voice calls (Mixel and Wotel bundles), mobile internet (Surfel data passes), international roaming (Sunu Roaming), SIM/eSIM products (Sunu SIM), and mobile money services (Orange Money). Services are managed through USSD codes and the Max it mobile application. The company targets cost-conscious Senegalese consumers with accessible pricing, promoted under the slogan 'Nio Far' (close/together).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mixel: A range of advantageous offers combining voice, internet and SMS at affordable prices.
• Surfel
• Wotel
• Sunu Roaming
• Sunu SIM / E-SIM
• Orange Money

Products and services

• Mixel Voice, internet, and SMS bundled prepaid plans available in various durations (24H, 48H, 7 days, 30 days) ranging from 90F to 2490F, combining call minutes, data megabytes, and text messages for affordable communication, purchased via USSD code #220#.
• Surfel Internet data passes starting at 200F for daily use, with weekly (500F-2500F) and monthly (2000F-15000F) options providing 300MB to 100GB of mobile data, purchased via USSD code #1234#.
• Wotel Voice call bundles offering discounted rates for national calls, with plans like Wotel 290F (120 minutes, 24H) and Wotel Fepp 990F (300 minutes, weekly), accessible via USSD code #220#.
• Sunu Roaming International roaming service enabling connectivity in Africa, Europe, America, and Asia with automatic activation and travel passes for voice, SMS, and data available via USSD #166# or Max it app.
• Sunu SIM SIM card products including physical SIM cards (500F with bonus offers) and eSIM technology (2000F) for virtual SIM activation on compatible devices.
• Max it Mobile Application Mobile application available on Play Store and App Store that combines Orange et Moi, Orange Money, and support services, enabling users to purchase passes, manage accounts, and access customer support.
• Sunu Sargal Loyalty Program Loyalty program allowing subscribers to earn points (Sargal) by recharging and using services, accessible via USSD code #221#.
• Orange Money Mobile money and digital wallet service for financial transactions, account management, and payment services accessible via USSD #144# or Max it application.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SONATEL (Orange Senegal)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2009Strategic partnership for brand license and distribution of mobile telephony services. SONATEL provides the network infrastructure (4G+) while KIRENE operates as the brand licensee. This partnership established the first brand license in Africa for mobile telephony.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• SONATEL (Orange Senegal): Kirene's exclusive network partner and also a competitor in the Senegalese mobile market. SONATEL provides the 4G+ infrastructure that Kirene leverages as an MVNO, while also selling its own Orange-branded services to overlapping consumer segments.
• MTN Group: Pan-African mobile operator with presence across West Africa including through subsidiaries and partners. Operates MoMo mobile money and data-focused prepaid services comparable to Kirene's Orange Money and Surfel offerings.
• Airtel Africa: Major African mobile operator with mobile money (Airtel Money) and prepaid data/voice services across multiple Francophone and Anglophone markets. Comparable offering portfolio and target segment to Kirene avec Orange.

Emerging players

• Wave Mobile Money: Mobile money operator with significant presence in Senegal and West Africa. Competes for the same digital wallet and mobile financial services use cases that Kirene addresses via Orange Money integration on the Max it app.
• Trace Mobile: African MVNO focused on youth and entertainment-led brand positioning, similar to Kirene's cultural brand identity play. Operates as a brand license on host MNO networks in select African markets.
• Virgin Mobile (Africa operations): Has operated MVNO services in select African markets using a brand-license model similar to Kirene. Comparable in terms of leveraging a strong consumer brand identity to differentiate on a host MNO's network infrastructure.

Regional players

• Halotel (Viettel Tanzania): African mobile operator offering ultra-low price prepaid voice and data bundles to cost-sensitive consumers, similar to Kirene's 90F entry point. While operating in a different African geography, the value-conscious GTM motion is highly comparable.

Direct peers

• Free Senegal: Direct MNO competitor in Senegal offering prepaid mobile voice, SMS, and data packages. Targets similar price-sensitive Senegalese consumers with comparable low-cost bundle offerings, making it the closest head-to-head competitor to Kirene.
• Lyca Mobile: Global MVNO operating in multiple African markets using a brand-license model on host MNO networks. Highly comparable business model to Kirene: prepaid bundles, multi-country roaming, USSD/app-based self-service, and ethnic/diaspora targeting.
• Expresso Senegal: One of the four licensed mobile operators in Senegal competing for prepaid subscribers. Offers similar voice, SMS, and data services with its own distribution network, directly contesting Kirene's target consumer segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/KIRENEavecOrange
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@KIRENEavecOrange
• Facebookfacebook.com/KIRENEavecOrange
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kirene-avec-orange
• Instagraminstagram.com/kireneavecorangeofficiel
• TikToktiktok.com/@kirenemobileofficiel?lang=fr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kirene avec Orange