• Senegal plans to provide free Internet access to one million people through Starlink by June 2026.
• The government negotiated the purchase of 5,000 Starlink terminals at preferential rates.
• About 40% of Senegal’s population still does not use the Internet despite broad mobile network coverage.

The Senegalese government plans to rely on Starlink, which recently announced the launch of its commercial operations in Senegal, to provide free Internet access to one million people by June 2026. The Senegalese Press Agency cited a statement from the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy saying that authorities negotiated the purchase of 5,000 terminals from the U.S. company at a preferential price.

For the executive, Starlink’s arrival represents a major strategic step toward universal Internet access. The low-Earth-orbit satellite constellation should significantly reduce coverage gaps by complementing or extending terrestrial networks, especially in hard-to-reach regions.

The government prioritizes white zones through community Wi-Fi solutions, as well as education, higher education, vocational training, local authorities, border areas, and the Diomaye Plan for Casamance. The initiative should significantly reduce connectivity costs for these users while providing access to very high-speed, reliable, and efficient Internet services.

This approach aligns with the government’s objective to democratize access to high and very high-speed broadband across the national territory. The strategy focuses particularly on rural and isolated areas, where terrestrial network deployment remains economically and technically challenging. The executive has positioned satellite technology as a strategic lever within a broader digital transformation agenda that integrates information and communication technologies across all sectors to accelerate socio-economic development.

However, data from the International Telecommunication Union show that 2G, 3G, and 4G networks already covered nearly the entire Senegalese territory in 2023. A 2025 study conducted under the Senegal Digital Economy Acceleration Project offers a more nuanced view.

The study found that 24% of localities lack any network coverage, affecting about 18,858 people. The study also showed that 37% of areas suffer frequent signal losses, only 52% benefit from 4G coverage, and some zones remain limited to 2G services.

The findings indicate that these shortcomings also affect social infrastructure, including schools and health centers in remote areas, which restricts access to essential services. In terms of usage, DataReportal estimated Internet penetration in Senegal at 60.6% at the end of 2025.

The initiative nonetheless raises questions about its scalability and its actual impact on Internet adoption. Even if authorities reduce obstacles such as cost and network coverage, other factors may limit usage, including access to Wi-Fi-compatible devices, digital skills, content availability, and issues related to security, ethics, and social norms.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de BERRY QUENUM