Quel mal y a-t-il à présenter la réalité de la maturité de la couverture Internet au Sénégal ? (Par Samba Mintou SEYE, Président Amicale des Cadres de Sonatel)
I commend the exercise undertaken by the Prime Minister and his team this Tuesday, February 24th, during their appearance before the National Assembly of Senegal. This initiative, part of Parliament's oversight of government action, contributes to strengthening the right to information and the duty of accountability, in a spirit of transparency and responsibility.
I would also like to commend his sense of listening, openness and above all responsibility, promising to analyze with hindsight all the contributions of stakeholders on the Starlink issue, in order to act accordingly.
We followed our supervising Minister's speech with interest. A new question remains: What harm is there in presenting the reality of the maturity of internet coverage in Senegal?
Some of the answers provided remain relevant as long as there are those who prefer to observe from the sidelines a decisive turning point in the history of digital technology in our country. The digital environment is, by its very nature, factual and transcends politics in a figurative sense.
I would like to return to certain points, in particular:
“Despite all the investments made by operators since Senegal’s existence, the fixed internet penetration rate in 2026 will not exceed 40%. Given this situation, should we wait until 2055 to hope to reach 80% connectivity? The answer is no…”
“The State of Senegal does not see technology as being in opposition. We are at 40% and, to close the gap, we have succeeded in less than 24 months in achieving what the country has not accomplished in 60 years of existence…”
• Clarification required: nearly 97% of Senegalese people, or approximately 16.5 million individuals, are already covered by 4G, with around 40% having 5G coverage. This is unless mobile internet is considered not to be included in the overall connectivity analysis.
• The main challenge seems to lie more in usage, impacted in particular by deficits in electrification, smartphone equipment, literacy and socio-economic constraints, etc.
Conversely, we remain fully aligned on a few key points:
• the strong ambition in the field of digital technology driven by the highest authorities of the State;
• the progressive recognition of Internet access as a fundamental lever for development, supported in particular by universal service;
• The actual existence of areas with insufficient coverage and access problems. A need for clarification:
• The 974 identified white zones would require approximately 774 mobile sites for an estimated investment of 32 billion FCFA; the 35 billion FCFA paid by Sonatel to the Universal Telecommunications Service Development Fund (FDSUT) already exceeds this estimated need; • A legitimate question remains: what budget has actually been mobilized by the FDSUT over the last five years?
Furthermore, how can guarantees be provided on major issues such as sovereignty, security, fairness, transparency, and the protection of personal data, without precise and factual answers to the following questions?
• Starlink given the green light with the announcement of a gateway by 2026;
• data control device;
• application of the provisions of articles 62 and 63 of the Electronic Communications Code (specifications, contractual clauses, procedures by decree, publication of the orders of the Government Authority and the decisions of the decisions on the ARTP website).
Our contributions are part of a constructive and responsible approach. We reaffirm our collective commitment to a just, prosperous and sovereign Senegal, where digital technology is a lever for inclusion, competitiveness and sustainable transformation.
Samba Mintou Seye
(President of the Sonatel Executives Association (ACSON))
(Engaged citizen)
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