{"id":25090,"date":"2025-12-05T11:32:29","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T11:32:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/newsroom\/?p=25090"},"modified":"2025-12-05T11:32:57","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T11:32:57","slug":"new-gsma-report-shows-digital-reforms-could-connect-2-6-million-more-people-in-senegal-by-2030-and-expand-access-to-essential-services","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gsma.com\/newsroom\/press-release\/new-gsma-report-shows-digital-reforms-could-connect-2-6-million-more-people-in-senegal-by-2030-and-expand-access-to-essential-services\/","title":{"rendered":"New GSMA Report Shows Digital Reforms Could Connect 2.6 Million More People in Senegal by 2030 and Expand Access to Essential Services"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Unlocking Economic Opportunity: Reforms Could Also Deliver FCFA 1,100 Billion in Growth and 280,000 New Jobs<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 December 2025, Dakar: <\/strong>Senegal could bring 2.6 million more people online, expand access to essential digital services, and unlock new opportunities in education, health, finance and agriculture by 2030, according to a new GSMA report launched today at the Digital Africa Summit Senegal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study \u2013 Driving Digital Transformation of the Economy in Senegal<\/em><\/a> \u2013 finds that targeted reforms to improve affordability, digital skills and modernise regulation would significantly reduce the country\u2019s 54% usage gap<\/a>, enabling millions more citizens to participate fully in the digital economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While these reforms are projected to generate FCFA 1,100 billion in economic value and create 280,000 new jobs, the report highlights that the most significant impact will be improving people\u2019s lives and supporting Senegal\u2019s ambitions under the New Deal Technologique 2034.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Angela Wamola, Head of Africa at the GSMA<\/strong>, said: \u201cSenegal has all the ingredients to become one of Africa\u2019s most dynamic digital economies, from strong national strategies to a young, ambitious population ready to participate. But millions of people are still held back by the cost of devices, skills gaps and access barriers. By focusing on affordability, digital skills and an enabling policy environment, Senegal can unlock opportunities for every community \u2013 from farmers and traders to students, entrepreneurs and public service users. These reforms can transform digital access into real, meaningful impact for people, while strengthening Senegal\u2019s long-term economic resilience.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strengthening Senegal\u2019s Digital Future<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senegal has made significant progress in expanding digital access, underpinned by national strategies such as Digital Senegal 2025, the Senegal Digital Economy Acceleration Project (PAENS), and the New Deal Technologique 2034. These programmes reflect the country\u2019s commitment to making digital technology a driver of inclusion, opportunity and national development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mobile connectivity sits at the heart of this transition \u2013 supporting everyday communication, enabling mobile money, expanding access to education and health services and opening new pathways for economic activity across agriculture, manufacturing, services, and government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GSMA analysis shows that Senegal now has 97% 4G population coverage and 39% 5G population coverage, with 8.16 million unique mobile internet users, equivalent to 43% of the population. Despite this strong infrastructure footprint, 54% of the population live within coverage but do not use mobile internet, highlighting a significant usage gap driven by affordability challenges, limited digital skills, and the high cost of smartphones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report underscores that achieving Senegal\u2019s digital ambitions will require people-centred reforms focused on reducing barriers to access, promoting sustainable investment, and modernising the policy and regulatory environment to ensure digital services are accessible, affordable and trusted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Five Reforms to Advance Digital Inclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The GSMA outlines five priority areas where policy reforms could make the biggest difference to people\u2019s digital access:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Improve affordability for citizens<\/strong>
    Removing taxes on entry-level smartphones, reducing data-related levies, and expanding national digital skills programmes would significantly lower the barriers that keep millions offline.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Strengthen infrastructure to reach underserved communities.<\/strong>
    A more predictable investment environment \u2013 including streamlined rights-of-way processes, clearer, lower spectrum prices, and longer license durations (min 20 years) in line with international best practice \u2013 would enable more reliable coverage and better service quality nationwide.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Expand access through stronger energy-telecoms alignment<\/strong>
    Improving power supply to digital infrastructure, especially in rural areas, would enhance network reliability and help ensure communities can depend on essential digital services.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Modernise regulation to support innovation and public service delivery<\/strong>
    Updates to licensing frameworks, ensuring regulatory parity among service providers, supporting emerging technologies, and clearer governance structures can create conditions for faster, more inclusive digital adoption.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Scale digital public services to deepen participation<\/strong>
    Accelerating e-government, digital payments, and digital health systems would significantly strengthen uptake by making digital tools relevant to everyday life.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    What These Reforms Could Mean for People by 2030<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If implemented, the reforms would help millions more Senegalese participate in the digital economy, particularly in regions and communities that remain underserved today. By 2030, Senegal could<\/p>\n\n\n\n