Leo Namibia

Leo
Type Private
Industry Telecommunications
Founded 2007
Headquarters Windhoek, Namibia
Products GSM, services, 3G, Internet service provider
Website http://www.leo.na

Leo formerly known as Cell One[1] is a mobile telecommunications company in Namibia providing cellular coverage. It is currently the second largest mobile operator in Namibia with currently around 300.000 active subscribers.[2]

Leo was established under the name Cell One in 2007 and was the first cellular provider in Namibia offering competition to the largely government owned MTC which operated as a monopoly for almost 10 years. Leo is owned by Telecel Globe, a subsidiary of the Egyptian Orascom Telecom Holding,[3] and it is a new brand for Telecel, with Namibia being the first country to adopt it[4] amongst a few other SADC countries.[5]

Re-branding

Leo underwent a name change (from Cell One) in September 2009, following its acquisition to new owners, Egyptian-owned Orascom Telecom Holdings, in January 2010 after a $59 million cash deal on 9 January 2010.[6] The name Leo (pronounced Lay-Yo) means "today" in Swahili, while also representing 'lion' in Spanish.[5]

References

  1. ^ Allgemeine Zeitung: Renaming of Cell One to Leo
  2. ^ Institute for Public Policy Research
  3. ^ Telcel Globe acquires Cell One Namibia
  4. ^ Nokia-Siemens: leo™ lays out aggressive expansion plan in Namibia
  5. ^ a b "Bye-Bye Cell One, Hello Leo". The Namibian. 19 August 2009. http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=28&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=58614&no_cache=1. 
  6. ^ "Orascom Telecom buys Namibia's Cell One in US$59 million cash deal". Reuters. 16 January 2009. http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/en/issue-no-437/telecoms/orascom-telecom-buys-namibias-cell-one-in-us59-million-cash-deal.