The ax has fallen. The Telecommunications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARTP) has sent a strong formal notice to the operator Saga Africa Holdings Limited, known under the brand “YAS” (FREE). Accused of “serious breach” of its obligations of continuity and quality of service, Yas is now in the spotlight.
Unacceptable interruptions
At the heart of the storm, repeated service interruptions paralyzed thousands of users across Senegal. According to SocialNetLinkYas was unable to maintain continuity of its services during critical periods, leaving customers without access to calls, SMS or mobile data.
Worse still, the operator did not consider it useful to warn its subscribers, a flagrant violation of article 21 of law n°2018-28 of December 12, 2018. This text, however, imposes total transparency: operators must announce , without delay, any interruption of service linked to work or incidents. This radio silence exacerbated consumer anger and motivated the ARTP to take action.
A reminder of the regulatory order
The ARTP relies on a solid legal arsenal to justify its decision. According to decision no. 2021-002, any major incident must be reported to the ARTP within two hours of its occurrence. A detailed report of corrective actions must follow within five hours. But in Yas’s case, these rules were simply ignored.
In addition, the texts in force oblige operators to guarantee uninterrupted availability of their network, 24 hours a day, even on weekends and public holidays. A crucial requirement for such a strategic sector.
Sanctions in sight for Yas?
The ARTP does not hide its exasperation. In its formal notice, the authority demands immediate measures to restore reliable service. If necessary, Yas faces severe sanctions, including the outright suspension of his license.
This warning shot targets not only Yas, but also all operators in the sector. “Licenses, agreements and specifications are not options, but obligations,” insists the ARTP.
Consumers on the front line
This new episode in the telecoms sector highlights consumer rights, often relegated to the background. While Yas subscribers await answers, this formal notice from the ARTP could well sound like a resounding warning for all market players.
As pointed out SocialNetLinkthe objective is twofold: to protect consumers and to call operators to order. In the meantime, the ball is now in Yas’s court, ordered to react without delay or face serious consequences.
