I would first like to commend the depth of your analysis and the relevance of the points raised. Your contribution sheds light on essential strategic issues for the digital development of Senegal and opens a necessary debate to guide this key sector towards a sustainable and coherent trajectory.
On the control and taxation of incoming calls
Your analysis on the return of the incoming call surcharge is of great importance, but it deserves to be completed, particularly with regard to the distinction between taxation and control. Many players seem to reduce the problem to a simple question of tax revenue, forgetting the fundamental role of control in a secure and efficient digital ecosystem.
Controlling incoming calls constitutes a strategic lever for:
Protect citizens: Fight against fraud, unwanted calls (spam), and cyberattacks which often use telecommunications networks.
Preserve operators’ revenues: Counter bypass practices (telecom fraud) which bypass official circuits and generate significant losses for operators and the State.
Guarantee optimal traceability: Allow better identification of communication flows to anticipate and prevent abuse.
Concerning taxation, you rightly point out that incoming traffic once generated substantial revenue: between 3.5 and 5 billion FCFA per month, or around 50 billion FCFA per year. These figures, partly due to traffic of 90 to 100 million minutes per year at the time, must be contextualized today with the rise of OTT (WhatsApp, Viber, Messenger, etc.) and the transformation of uses.
However, it is essential to note that:
Inbound traffic remains relevant, even in 2019, when it still accounted for 77 million minutes (despite the recent lack of updated reporting from ARTP).
With more than 22 million subscribers in 2023, the potential for significant incoming traffic remains, particularly in areas not covered by 3G/4G. According to the FDSUT, around 3,000 localities are still disconnected, which confirms the dependence of many regions on traditional voice traffic.
Finally, the studies suggesting a contribution of OTTs to the tune of 300 billion FCFA for Senegal deserve in-depth reflection on the means of capturing part of this value without imposing additional charges on subscribers. This requires appropriate tax policies, while ensuring not to discourage digital innovation.
On the proliferation and redundancy of digital projects
You highlight a central challenge: the fragmentation and lack of coordination of digital projects. The example of 6,000 km of optical fiber, which could have been rationalized by working with operators, clearly illustrates this problem. It is essential that the State adopts a strategic approach to:
Optimize public investments: Avoid unnecessary overlaps that mobilize resources without providing significant added value.
Guarantee infrastructure interoperability: Ensure seamless connectivity between different institutions and digital platforms.
Establish a clear normative framework: Define common rules to guide the deployment of infrastructure and guarantee their consistency with national objectives.
The role of the Ministry of Telecommunications must be strengthened as a strategic manager, capable of supervising and aligning the initiatives of the various public (SENUM, ARTP, FDSUT, etc.) and private actors.
On governance and coordination
You rightly emphasize the need for unified governance to refocus each actor on their essential missions. Conflicts of prerogatives between institutions such as SENUM, Senelec, ARTP or FDSUT weaken the overall efficiency of the sector. Coherent governance involves:
Clarification of responsibilities: Clearly define the roles of each entity to avoid costly duplication.
A periodic evaluation of projects: Measuring their real contribution to improving the quality of life of citizens and the economic competitiveness of Senegal.
Towards an inclusive and sustainable digital transformation
Digital technology should not only be seen as an economic vector, but also as a tool of national sovereignty and social inclusion. Within the framework of the Senegal 2050 framework, several priorities are essential:
Bridging the digital divide: Guarantee universal access to basic infrastructure (optical fiber, 3G/4G) for all localities.
Strengthen cybersecurity: Protect citizen data and critical infrastructure against cyberthreats.
Stimulate local innovation: Support Senegalese start-ups and digital companies so that they actively participate in the growth of the sector.
Conclusion
Your contribution, Mr. Diakhate, lays a solid foundation for a structured debate on the digital future of Senegal. It underlines the urgency of reviewing our strategic priorities, by adopting a global and coherent vision which favors control, the rationalization of projects and strengthened governance.
Senegal has the resources and talents necessary to position itself as a leader in digital transformation in Africa. However, this requires strong political will and mobilization of all stakeholders, public and private. Thank you again for your enriching reflections, which inspire collective action for a promising digital future.
