(Ecofin Agency) - Since September 6, 2018, clients of SONATEL, the main telecommunications service provider in Senegal, have been experiencing  LTE Advanced internet. The incumbent operator which is not far from providing the 5G mobile network is moving forward in its ambition to cover the whole territory with high-speed internet connetion. It announced that since main towns have been covered with the 4G, all the regional capitals and most populated towns should be connected to high-speed mobile internet by October 2018.  

This investment made by SONATEL to improve the performance of its telecommunications network demonstrates its commitment to support Senegal in the implementation of the "Digital Senegal 2025" strategy whose goal is to facilitate access to quality and affordable internet connection for the majority of the population. According to Sékou Dramé, SONATEL’s MD, those two conditions (quality and affordability) have been met now.

Sonatel reveals that in 2017, thanks to the large 4G network coverage, most of the citizens had the best internet in the country. This year, intense efforts have been deployed to connect all the regional capitals by November. It also informs that internet costs have been reduced by 20%. In January 2018, these reductions were up to 50% for mobile internet as well as ADSL.