Digital technology is a major factor in the implementation of the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE). The government is therefore investing in strengthening the national telecom infrastructure to accelerate digital transformation.
Macky Sall, President of Senegal, is concerned about improving the quality and coverage of telecom services in the country. On the occasion of the Council of Ministers of Wednesday, March 15, he asked the Minister of Telecommunications to initiate, “ as soon as possible ”, the implementation of an Emergency Plan to accelerate full coverage of the national territory. in mobile phone networks.
This initiative should be implemented in partnership with telecommunications operators and the Emergency Program for the Modernization of Border Axes and Territories (PUMA). The Head of State also asked the Minister of Telecommunications to assess the resources and activities of the Universal Telecommunications Service Development Fund (FDSUT).
This initiative by the Senegalese president is part of the Senegalese government’s desire to accelerate the country’s digital transformation and achieve the objectives set in the “Senegal Digital 2025 (SN25)” strategic plan, two years from ‘due date. For the 2023 financial year, a budget of 113.3 billion CFA francs (180 million USD) has been allocated to the Ministry of Communication, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy.
Improving the coverage of the national telecom network should make it possible to extend telecom services to millions of Senegalese who have not been connected up to now. According to the latest available statistics from the Telecommunications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARTP), the country had 19.6 million mobile telephone lines in June 2021. This represents a penetration rate of 117.7%.