Senegal

Basics

In Senegal three networks are operating:

• Orange (by Sonatel)
• Free (formerly Tigo)
• Expresso

Orange is the biggest provider with more than 1/2 of the users. Free and Expresso fight for the 2nd position with 21-23%. 99% of all users in Senegal are on a prepaid plan.

In 2017 three MVNOs have been licensed in Senegal and are expected to be launched soon: You Mobile on Orange network, Sirius on Free and Origines on Expresso.

Frequencies

2G/GSM is mostly on 900 MHz and some 1800 MHz, 3G/UMTS is on 2100 MHz. Licenses for 4G/LTE have been given out in 2016 on 800 and 1800 MHz to Orange, other providers are to follow. All providers are testing in Dakar, but not haven't launched comercially yet.

Coverage

In 2015 Senegal’s network coverage leaves much to be desired. Even in Dakar a large part of the population are still without effective coverage: The population not covered by a 3G network in Dakar is 27% for Orange, 47% for Tigo, now Free and 52% for Expresso. In Senegal’s 45 administrative departments, in addition to poor 2G coverage, only Orange has a 3G network in each department, with Tigo covering just 12 and Expresso having no 3G coverage at all outside of Dakar, Saint Louis, Thies, Fatick, Kaolock, Tambacounda and Diourbe.

Regulations

Since 2013 all SIM cards officially are required to be registered and you even have to give a fingerprint. Purchasing a SIM card in a store, be prepared to show an ID, but when you buy it on the street it's often not necessary. This regulation is now being strictly enforced after a slow start. All undocumented SIM cards, that's more than 5 million, have been suspended and shut off in 2016 by the regulator.

Orange

Orange in Senegal is owned by the mobile department of Sonatel. This is the old state telco which was privatized in 1997. France Télécom is their strategic partner and from 2006 on it has used their Orange brand.

They are the biggest operator with 60% of all mobile customers, best coverage and reasonable speeds. For travelling through the country, it should be your first choice. But they have higher prices than their competitors.

In 2016 Orange received licenses for 4G/LTE on 800 and 1800 MHz (Bands 3 and 20). The operator is obliged to begin marketing 4G within two months of the frequency assignment date and required to provide coverage of 70% in 5 years and 85-90% in 10 years.

In 2018 Orange announced, that it now covers all major cities of Senegal with its 4G/LTE network and that by October all regional capitals and most populated cities will have access to mobile broadband. During the first half of 2018 Orange strengthened its LTE coverage in Dakar and commissioned 4G sites in Porokhane, Medina, Gounass, Sokone, Darou, Mousty, Popenguine and Velingara. Additional 4G sites will be set up in Kedougou, Kidira, Mbour, Louga, Kolda, Bignona, Kaffrine, Fatick and Sedhiou in October, while Orange will also strengthen LTE coverage in Ziguinchor and Touba. The population coverage of 4G was about 50% at the end of 2018.

Availability

The SIM card that they call puce is sold on the streets or in an boutique or agence Orange for 1000 F with the same credit on it. Also there are two Orange boutiques available on the right side after you exit customs in Blaise Diagne International Airport. To activate, they need to link a ID number to it.

The prepaid line is marketed under the name diamono and you get a 100% bonus for your first top-up. You can top-up in all Orange Money outlets, kiosks and Sonatel stores or at the international Orange top-up site http://topup.orange.com/.

Data feature packages

For data you need to purchase a package that is called Pass Internet.

They are available by volume and time:

• Volume-based packages:

Data	Time	Price
75 MB	24 hours	250 F
250 MB	24 hours	500 F
400 MB	24 hours	400 F
3 GB	24 hours	1000 F
1 GB	3 days	1000 F
400 MB	7 days	1000 F
1.5 GB	7 days	1500 F
2.5 GB	30 days	2000 F
7 GB	30 days	5000 F
15 GB	30 days	10000 F
25 GB	30 days	15000 F

All monthly passes have an additional GB for night use from midnight to 8am. For activation type #1234#.

• Time-based packages:
  • 30 minutes for 1 day: 250 F
  • 1 hour for 1 day: 400 F
  • 3 hours for 7 days: 1,000 F

To activate type #1234# or online on http://www.passorange.sn.

To activate packages, check remaining balances, bonuses and etc, just open http://www.passorange.sn.

More info

• APN: internet
• Website in French: http://www.orange.sn

Free Senegal (formerly Tigo)

Free Senegal was previously called Tigo run by Sentel GSM, a subsidiary of Millicom. It used to be the 3rd operator, but overtook Expresso in 2013/4. In 2018 it acquired a 4G/LTE license.

Tigo Senegal was sold by Millicom in 2018 to the Saga Africa Holdings Ltd., a consortium owned by Xavier Niel of the French Free Group. Tigo, Senegal’s second largest mobile network operator by subscribers, has been rebranded as Free Senegal in October 2019. They promote the operator’s new ‘4G+’ LTE-A network, which is said to cover Dakar and most regional capitals and offer the country’s fastest mobile data speeds.

Availability

Their starter pack called pack Gaindé costs 1000 XOF with 30 mins of voicetime, 2 GB data and free WhatsApp use for 30 days.

For activation, your passport number needs to be registered. So better go to an agency (shown here on this map when you scroll down).

You can recharge at many outposts by e-load or vouchers of 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 or 10000 XOF.

Data feature packs

Unlike Orange and Expresso, they follow Free's policy in France of only 2 different monthly plans called forfaits which you can choose:

• 1500 F: 2 GB of 4G data or 1 GB of 3G data, 180 domestic minutes, 200 SMS and free WhatsApp
• 6000 F: 20 GB of 4G data or 10 GB of 3G data, 800 dom. minutes, 800 SMS and free WhatsApp

All plans are for 30 days and can be activated by *155*1#.

More info

• APN: web.tigo.sn /or/ web.sentel.com /or/ web.free.com
• Website in French: https://free.sn/

Expresso

Expresso is owned by UAE-based Expresso Telecom Group Limited, itself a wholly owned subsidiary of Sudanese telecoms operator Sudatel Telecom Group (STG), started in 2007 and was passed over by Tigo, now called Free in 2013 as 2nd provider. They now care for 22% of all subscribers. Like Free, their network is not as good as Orange's. 3G can only be found in Dakar and a few other towns (3G coverage map, 2G coverage map). Its service has proven to be not so reliable and you should make a network check before purchase.

Expresso announced it activated a new 4G network on 3rd March prior to launching commercial services on 31 March 2020. Expresso is also planning to upgrade its 3G network to address the poor data transmission speeds and service availability experienced in some areas of the country. The planned infrastructure investment is expected to expand 3G network coverage from 45% to 70% of population, while the operator’s 2G network footprint will be increased from 87% to 90%.

Availability

Expresso SIM card costs 2000 XOF and comes with the same credit in Expresso shops (list) and agencies. In promotions SIM cards are given out for 200 XOF.

Data feature packs

For data you need to add packages which are called forfaits:

Time	Data	Price	Activation
24 hours	40 MB	100 F	*19*100#
24 hours	100 MB	200 F	*19*200#
24 hours	2 GB	500 F	*19*500#
7 days	200 MB	400 F	*19*150#
7 days	400 MB	700 F	*19*700#
7 days	700 MB	1000 F	*19*1000#
7 days	2 GB	2000 F	*19*2000#
30 days	250 MB	900 F	*19*900#
30 days	500 MB	1000 F	*19*10#
30 days	1 GB	2300 F	*19*2300#
30 days	2 GB	3500 F	*19*3500#
30 days	5 GB	6900 F	*19*6900#
30 days	8 GB	10,900 F	*19*10900#
30 days	10 GB	3000 F	*19*10#
30 days	20 GB	19,900 F	*19*19900#
30 days	1 GB/day	5000 F	*19*6900#

For unlimited use of Facebook, WhatsApp, instagram and Twitter, they offer:

• for 24 hours: 150 F, activation: *14*150#
• for 7 days: 700 F, activation: *14*700#
• for 30 days: 1500 F, activation: *14*1500#

More info

• APN: expresso
• Website in French: http://www.expressotelecom.sn/fr