• Senegal to roll out 774 telecom towers under universal access program
• Project aims to improve coverage for 436,000 people in underserved areas
• Plan complements broader $115 mln digital push to connect 1,540 towns

Senegal plans to deploy 774 telecom sites under its Universal Access Program (PAU) to improve network coverage nationwide. The project was unveiled during a workshop presenting a study on uncovered areas, according to a statement by the Universal Telecommunications Service Development Fund (FDSUT) on September 12.

The rollout is structured into four geographic zones: the Groundnut Basin, Casamance, the southeast, and the northwest. It is expected to benefit about 436,000 residents.

The white-spot study covered 250 localities. It found that 24% had no network at all, affecting nearly 18,858 people; 37% experienced frequent signal losses; and only 52% had 4G coverage, with some areas still limited to 2G. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), about 40% of Senegal’s population did not use the Internet in 2023, and nearly 20% did not own a mobile phone.

“These shortcomings also affect social infrastructure, such as schools and health centers in remote areas, limiting access to essential services,” the FDSUT noted. The project will install new sites in priority white zones, optimize existing sites, and adopt a hybrid approach combining new and upgraded infrastructure.

In July, FDSUT coordinator Ndèye Fatou Ndiaye Diop Blondin said Senegal needs CFA64 billion (about $115 million) to connect 1,540 localities to the Internet by 2029. The Universal Digital Access Program (PANU) aims to reach about 2.6 million people, equip 200 public institutions with digital tools, develop five apps or content platforms, and train 500 people in digital skills.