Telecommunications Development: Senegal Discusses Cooperation with ITU
September 3rd 2025
The Senegalese government is making digital technology a pillar of its socio-economic development. This involves strengthening telecommunications, which are essential to the country’s digital transformation.
The Senegalese Telecommunications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARTP) is seeking to intensify its cooperation with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in the area of regulation. Discussions were initiated on the sidelines of the Global Symposium of Regulators, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from Sunday, August 31 to Wednesday, September 3.
Dahirou Thiam, Director General of ARTP, presented to Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Secretary General of the ITU, the inclusive approach planned for the institution’s future strategic plan, integrating the concerns of all stakeholders. As stated in the ARTP press release published on its Facebook page on September 2: “This will, based on an uncompromising diagnosis, focus on major issues such as co-regulation, consideration of climate change, data-driven regulation, governance of artificial intelligence, and regulation of non-terrestrial networks.”
These efforts come amid accelerated digital transformation, as the Senegalese government seeks to expand ICT. According to DataReportal, the country had 22.7 million mobile phone subscribers at the start of 2025, representing a penetration rate of 121%, while the internet base stood at 11.3 million, with a penetration rate of 60.6%.
In its 2021 report, “The Impact of Policies, Regulation, and Institutions on ICT Sector Performance,” the ITU highlights that certain policies have already had a positive impact on investment. These include the adoption of national broadband plans, flexible licensing frameworks, the authorization of spectrum sharing, number portability to enhance competition, openness to foreign operators, and the presence of competition authorities. Together, these measures promote expanded coverage, lower prices, increased adoption of services, and, ultimately, a macroeconomic impact on GDP per capita.
It should be noted, however, that the strengthening of the partnership between the ITU and ARTP remains at the exploratory stage. The precise terms of any possible collaboration have not been disclosed, and no agreement has been signed or announced.
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