Senegal: 64B CFA Required to Expand Telecom Access

Senegal’s state-owned Universal Telecommunications Service Development Fund (FDSUT) has estimated that 64 billion CFA francs is needed to extend connectivity to 1,540 localities by 2029.

The funding would support the rollout of digital services in remote areas to enable access to basic public services. The initiative aligns with President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s digitalization agenda, which aims to boost service delivery, job creation and administrative modernization.

According to the FDSUT, there are still many zones without any connection in Senegal. A recent survey by Senegal’s National Agency for Statistics and Demography, in collaboration with the national telecom regulator, revealed stark connectivity gaps: in 2024, only 3% of rural households had internet access at home compared to 44% in Dakar.

“We must continue raising awareness on the importance of universal service,” said Ndèye Fatou Ndiaye Diop Blondin, Coordinator, FDSUT. “This is an opportunity to reiterate the importance of FDSUT’s mission and push toward the goal of connecting 1,540 localities,” she stated.