08 January 2026
In a major move to expand internet access across the country, Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye announced on December 31, 2025, a nationwide program to deploy satellite antennas throughout 2026. 
This initiative aims to provide free internet access to nearly one million people, with a focus on rural communities and outlying neighborhoods where telecommunications infrastructure is limited.
The decision aligns with insights from the GSMA’s recent study, “Stimulating the Digital Transformation of the Economy in Senegal,” released on December 5, 2025. The report notes that Senegal already boasts near-universal 4G coverage—reaching approximately 97% of the population—and about 39% 5G coverage, mainly concentrated in major urban centers. Despite these advances, only around 52% of the population—roughly 9.9 million people—are active mobile service users, and about 42% (around 8.16 million) use mobile broadband internet.
The strategic focus on satellite antennas addresses the challenge of deploying fiber optics across Senegal’s vast and varied terrain, which is both costly and time-consuming. Recent advancements, particularly low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellations, offer faster, more flexible deployment options, especially in hard-to-reach areas. Although specific usage models for these antennas have not yet been detailed, their potential impact is significant.
Potential Benefits Across Sectors
Education: Widespread internet access can revolutionize learning by providing teachers with current resources, enabling distance education, and offering students access to digital libraries and interactive tools. For students in remote locations, reliable connectivity reduces dependence on costly internet cafes and limited data plans, enhancing educational opportunities and success.
Healthcare: Telemedicine could see significant growth, facilitating remote consultations between health centers and hospitals, quicker transmission of medical records, monitoring of chronically ill patients, and ongoing medical staff training. In emergencies or epidemics, internet connectivity becomes a vital tool for alerting communities and coordinating responses.
Economic Development: For micro-entrepreneurs, free internet access opens pathways to online commerce, digital payments, social media marketing, and access to market information such as prices and opportunities. It can also accelerate government digitalization efforts—improving civil registration, social services, taxation, alerts, and local communication.
