Sonatel Orange has announced the rollout of high-speed satellite internet services in Senegal, a move the telecoms operator says will help extend connectivity to remote and underserved areas and support the country’s long-term digital ambitions.
The launch makes Sonatel the first operator in Senegal to offer near-national coverage by combining satellite technology with existing fibre-optic infrastructure and 4G and 5G mobile networks, the company said in a statement.
Speaking at the launch in Dakar, Sonatel Group chief executive Brelotte Ba said the deployment was in line with the government’s strategy to modernise digital infrastructure and expand access to connectivity nationwide.
“This new capability gives us the technological and operational means to support the implementation of Senegal Horizon 2050,” Ba said, referring to the country’s long-term development blueprint. He added that the project relies on local infrastructure and national expertise.
Under the initiative, Sonatel has partnered with satellite operator Eutelsat through its Konnect service to deliver very small aperture terminal (VSAT) internet solutions. Commercial offers have been available since December 10 for households, businesses and public institutions.
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According to Sonatel, the satellite service provides coverage to about 99 percent of the country, with a focus on rural, border and hard-to-reach areas where terrestrial networks remain limited or uneconomical to deploy. The plans are marketed as unlimited, aiming to provide reliable high-speed access in regions that have long lagged behind urban centres.
The satellite rollout complements Sonatel’s broader network strategy, which combines fixed broadband, next-generation mobile networks and alternative technologies to close remaining connectivity gaps.
The initiative comes as Senegal pushes to reduce territorial inequalities and strengthen digital continuity across the country. Access to fast and reliable internet remains uneven, particularly outside major cities such as Dakar, Thiès and Saint-Louis.
As part of its longer-term investment plans, Sonatel said it intends to deploy an additional one million fibre-optic connections between 2026 and 2028. That expansion would bring the number of homes eligible for fibre connectivity to nearly two million by 2028, including in areas that have so far been underserved.
Beyond infrastructure, the operator said the project has wider institutional and economic implications. By positioning itself as a technology partner to the state and local authorities, Sonatel aims to support the digitalisation of public services, including education, healthcare and public administration.
Improved connectivity, the company said, could help schools access online learning tools, enable health centres to use telemedicine services and allow citizens to interact more easily with government platforms.
Senegal has made digital transformation a central pillar of its development agenda, viewing connectivity as a driver of economic growth, job creation and social inclusion. Authorities hope that expanding internet access nationwide will help unlock opportunities for businesses and communities that have historically been left on the margins of the digital economy.
With the launch of satellite internet services, Sonatel said it was taking “a decisive step” toward universal connectivity, as Senegal seeks to position itself as a regional digital hub in West Africa.
