Senegal’s Internet Revolution: How Fiber, 5G, and Policy Are Connecting a Nation
As of January 2025, about 11.3 million Senegalese use the internet, representing 60.6% of the population, with roughly 4 in 10 still offline. There were 22.7 million active mobile connections in early 2025, about 121% of the population due to multiple SIM cards. Approximately 90% of Senegal’s mobile connections are on 3G/4G/5G networks, i.e., broadband capable. Senegal gained access to the 45,000 km 2Africa subsea cable after landing in Dakar in late 2023, backed by Meta and partners. Senegal’s 5G era began with Orange Sonatel launching 5G services on June 8, 2024 in Dakar, after Free obtained a 5G license