Senegal has launched a national program to deploy satellite antennas in remote and underserved regions with the goal of connecting one million citizens to the Internet by the end of 2026. The initiative was announced by the Minister of Communication, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, Alioune Sall, during a National Assembly session on the review of the government’s draft 2026 budget.
According to the minister, the deployment of satellite antennas will begin before the end of 2025 and will rely on new technologies to ensure that state services reach citizens even in the most isolated areas. The project specifically targets regions that remain poorly served by fiber and 4G infrastructure and will use a mix of technologies to achieve nationwide coverage.
The government plans to provide free connectivity to priority locations including border regions, health posts, isolated administrative offices, and schools that require special support. As part of the same digital push, Senegal will also introduce a digital version of the citizen criminal record.
The initiative forms part of Senegal’s wider digital transformation strategy, which has accelerated in recent years through regulatory reforms, infrastructure investments, and international cooperation. In September 2025, Senegal strengthened regulatory collaboration with the International Telecommunication Union, while PAIX Data Centres announced the construction of a new data center in Dakar scheduled to go live in 2026.
Senegal has also advanced its telecom infrastructure through financing from British International Investment in 2024, the launch of its first satellite GAINDESAT in 2023, and the implementation of national roaming agreements to improve mobile access. As of October 2025, the country had 22.3 million mobile subscribers and 11.5 million Internet users, representing an Internet penetration rate of 60.6 percent.
