Senegal’s telecoms regulator, the Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications et des Postes (ARTP), has launched a public consultation on the deployment and sharing of fibre-to-the-x (FTTx) networks in Senegal.
There’s been rapid growth in fibre connectivity in the country, with nearly 600,000 lines connected by the end of 2025, driven by government aims to boost connectivity, digital sovereignty and the digital economy – but there have also been problems.
They include parallel infrastructure deployments, inconsistent technical architectures, and the absence of a structured co-investment framework. As the TechAfrica News website points out, these issues raise concerns about inefficiencies, duplication of infrastructure, and long-term sustainability.
Could network sharing be an answer? That’s what the consultation aims to find out. It is reportedly seeking a lot of information, including input from industry stakeholders on technical standards, deployment models, infrastructure sharing mechanisms, rules, market dynamics, wholesale access and sharing arrangements (if any). Stakeholders are also invited to provide perspectives on market demand, future growth potential, and the role of alternative technologies in expanding connectivity.
The aim, in theory, is to reach a harmonised regulatory, technical, and economic framework for FTTx deployment, with all that that could mean in terms of competition, sharing models and even allowing service providers to operate entirely on third-party fibre infrastructure.
The consultation is also looking at architecture choices such as GPON or point-to-point systems, the use of underground ducts and aerial infrastructure, and building access requirements, not to mention quality of service, maintenance responsibilities, and coordination among multiple operators in shared network environments.
TechAfrica says ARTP also wants views on market development, including current levels of fibre penetration, growth, the potential use of FTTx networks for mobile backhaul and the broader role of fibre in supporting Senegal’s digital ecosystem.
Will this make it easier to find areas of consensus and divergence among stakeholders and use the insights to benefit Senegal’s digital infrastructure? We should find out fairly soon. Stakeholders have been invited to submit detailed contributions by 10 April 2026.
