Sénégal: Obligations Opérateurs Télécoms Zones Rurales Manquées

• Senegal's rural areas continue to experience poor telecommunications service quality despite legal frameworks aiming for universal access.
• Telecommunications operators, such as Sonatel, report significant profits and investments while rural communities host infrastructure without direct compensation.
• Concerns exist regarding health risks from electromagnetic waves, with some localized readings exceeding regulatory averages, and safety hazards from poorly maintained pylons.
• Local communes are often excluded from infrastructure planning and oversight, and their attempts to levy fees on operators are met with constitutional challenges.

Rural Senegal continues to face marginalization within the telecommunications landscape, characterized by inferior network access and the presence of infrastructure that yields no direct benefits to the local communities.

Globally, rural communities frequently encounter significant challenges in accessing telecommunications services comparable to those available in urban centers. This disparity often stems from their dispersed populations and reduced collective influence. In Senegal, the government has committed to ensuring equitable public service quality for all citizens, regardless of their location, a principle embedded in its social contract. This commitment is legally codified in the Telecommunications Code and, subsequently, the Electronic Communications Code, which superseded it in 2018. To address connectivity gaps in remote areas deemed commercially unviable by the market, the Universal Telecommunications Service Development Fund (FDSUT) was established.

Despite these foundational efforts and the mandate given to concessionary operators to provide quality voice and data services to subscribers, the reality on the ground for rural populations often falls short. Reports indicate that these areas continue to experience subpar network quality. For instance, residents in Niomré have consistently voiced complaints regarding their network service, with individuals often needing to travel significant distances or wait for extended periods to find a usable signal for calls or messages.

Three years after initial observations highlighted these issues, the situation remains largely unchanged. Rural Senegal continues to face marginalization within the telecommunications landscape, characterized by inferior network access and the presence of infrastructure that yields no direct benefits to the local communities. Instead, these communities bear the brunt of associated nuisances and potential risks, impacting both health and safety.

In stark contrast to the connectivity struggles faced by rural residents, telecommunications operators in the region demonstrate robust financial performance. The Sonatel Group, which operates across five West African nations, reported substantial earnings for its fiscal year 2025, achieving a turnover of 1,923.1 billion FCFA and a net profit of 413.6 billion FCFA. The company also made significant investments totaling 288.6 billion FCFA, primarily directed towards enhancing its network infrastructure.

A considerable portion of this financial success and network expansion relies on physical installations, such as pylons and technical facilities, situated within rural villages. These sites often occupy land, sometimes up to one hectare, which has been formally allocated by municipal councils. However, these installations, while contributing to the operators' profitability, frequently fail to provide any direct financial or service-related compensation to the host communities.

The presence of these structures, therefore, represents a significant imbalance, where rural areas provide essential land and endure potential inconveniences without receiving commensurate benefits. This dynamic underscores a critical aspect of the Sénégal obligations opérateurs télécoms zones rurales discussion, highlighting the disparity between corporate gains and local community welfare.

Beyond the lack of direct benefits, the presence of telecommunications infrastructure in rural settings introduces specific health and safety concerns for local inhabitants. A primary worry revolves around electromagnetic waves emitted by antennas. In 2022, the Regulatory Authority for Post and Telecommunications (ARTP) conducted a comprehensive measurement campaign across all 46 departments of Senegal. The national average electromagnetic field level recorded was 0.73 V/m, which remained well within established regulatory limits.

However, the ARTP's findings also revealed localized anomalies: certain points, including residential homes or huts located in close proximity to antennas, registered levels exceeding 6 V/m. This figure represents more than eight times the national average, raising specific concerns for those living immediately adjacent to these installations. Compounding this anxiety, rural communes have reportedly not received site-specific control results from the ARTP regarding the equipment located within their jurisdictions, fostering a climate of uncertainty and apprehension among residents.

Furthermore, the physical structures themselves pose tangible safety hazards. Tall pylons, often tens of meters high, are prone to attracting lightning strikes during the rainy season. If inadequately earthed, infrequently inspected, or compromised by corrosion, these structures could potentially collapse under severe wind gusts preceding thunderstorms, posing a grave physical threat to nearby residents. Additionally, sites that are poorly fenced or left open can become hazardous play areas for children, further exacerbating the risks borne by these communities without any form of compensation.

The challenges faced by rural communities are further complicated by a perceived lack of involvement and authority for local municipal councils. These councils, which serve as the primary interface for residents, are often excluded from critical processes such as ARTP measurements and controls related to telecommunications infrastructure. In some instances, operators proceed with installations without even consulting local mayoral offices. For example, the operator Yas recently erected an antenna within a house in Tanime village, part of the Niomré commune, without engaging the mayor, who is typically responsible for local risk prevention and ensuring community safety.

In response to these perceived inequities, many communes, including Niomré, have taken steps to implement local levies or fees on telecommunications operators. These proposed charges have received administrative approval, and communes have subsequently issued formal demands to the operators. However, the standard response from operators cites Article 67 of the Constitution, which they interpret as reserving the power to create impositions exclusively to national law. This legal interpretation creates a stalemate, preventing local authorities from securing direct financial contributions or oversight mechanisms from operators whose infrastructure occupies their land and impacts their residents. This ongoing dispute highlights a significant aspect of the Sénégal obligations opérateurs télécoms zones rurales debate, focusing on the extent of local governance in managing essential services.

Source: Original reporting via Le Monde Rural