By:
Nana Appiah Acquaye
Senegal's
Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Affairs has convened a national
workshop to examine how taxation on entry-level smartphones can be reformed to
accelerate digital inclusion and expand access to mobile internet across the
country.
Held
on July 1, 2026, the workshop brought together representatives from public
institutions, telecommunications operators, technical and financial partners,
and key stakeholders from the digital ecosystem to explore policy options that
could make smartphones more affordable for citizens.
Discussions
focused on the country's digital adoption gap. While mobile broadband
infrastructure now covers nearly 97 percent of Senegal's population, only about
43 percent of citizens actively use mobile internet, with the high cost of
smartphones identified as one of the primary barriers to digital access.
Participants
explored several approaches aimed at reducing the cost of entry-level devices
while maintaining a balance between digital inclusion objectives and the
government's revenue mobilization priorities. The workshop also examined how
fiscal policies could support broader digital transformation without
undermining public finances.
According
to the Ministry, improving access to affordable smartphones is central to
expanding the use of digital public services, online education, healthcare,
financial services, and other digital economic opportunities.
The
initiative forms part of Senegal's New
Deal Technologique strategy, which seeks to build a more
inclusive, innovative, and accessible digital economy by increasing
connectivity and ensuring that more citizens can participate in the country's
digital transformation.
