Communication in Senegal

Everyday communication in Senegal often combines French with Wolof or another national language. Formal requests to authorities, companies and institutions usually use French. If a conversation becomes unclear, switch language where possible, speak slowly, repeat names, numbers and dates, and confirm key information in writing. An informal agreement does not automatically have the legal force of a signed contract, official record or formally submitted request. Mobile communication has very high practical relevance. In December 2025, the market included Orange, Yas, Expresso, Promobile and Hayo. ARTP reported 128.69% mobile penetration, but this figure counts active SIMs rather than people because one person may use several SIMs. Prepaid services are widespread. A mobile, fixed-line or internet subscription requires identification. A Senegalese or CEDEAO national generally uses a CNI or passport; another foreign national uses a passport. A company uses its Registre de Commerce and NINEA. One person may hold up to three SIMs with each mobile provider. Numbers that were not identified were subject to suspension from 31 March 2025, with announced definitive termination from 29 September 2025 and regularisation available until 31 October 2025. Users can transfer an active mobile number to another provider without changing the number. The usual conditions include valid identification, an active number without a blocking restriction and at least three months with the current provider. Portability is free, normally takes no more than 24 hours and should cause no more than two hours of interruption. A further transfer normally requires another three months. If a problem continues, complain first to the provider and then to ARTP, the Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications et des Postes. Internet access is mainly mobile. In the third quarter of 2025, Senegal recorded 23,515,013 internet lines, of which 96.35% were mobile, with penetration of 126.47%. Services include mobile access through a handset, key or box, fixed ADSL and fibre, and 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks. Only 3% of rural households reported a home internet subscription in the 2024 ENTICS survey. Coverage and quality vary by region, network and event. ARTP measures voice, data and SMS quality nationally, including during major events such as the Grand Magal and Gamou. Postal services remain available across the country through La Poste du Sénégal. Universal postal service covers letters up to 2 kg, parcels up to 20 kg, registered and declared-value items and money orders. La Poste reports more than 250 offices across 45 departments. Regional deliveries may take about 24 to 36 hours, while remote areas may take up to seven days. Jotnaci offers next-day delivery in Dakar. International delivery commonly takes about 7 to 20 days, but this is not a contractual guarantee. Tracking is available for references such as RR...SN and JT.... Collection usually takes place at the relevant office with identification and an avis de passage. International items can involve customs, a presentation charge of 1,000 FCFA and storage of 100 FCFA per day after eight days. A boîte postale, or BP, gives a person or organisation a postal address at an office rather than automatic delivery to a home. The annual fee listed by La Poste is 5,000 FCFA for a person in a rural area, 10,000 FCFA for a person in an urban area, 25,000 FCFA for an association, 30,000 FCFA for a GIE or liberal profession, 50,000 FCFA for an administration and 60,000 FCFA for a company. Postal tariffs otherwise depend on weight, destination and service. Government communication is divided among institutions. Sénégal Services provides administrative information and online services; the Ministry of the Interior provides web forms and contacts, including 17 for police, 18 for fire services and 800 00 20 20; the Ministry of Justice provides Mes démarches en ligne; and the tax administration DGID provides SENTAX for online declarations and payments. Online access often covers only part of a procedure, so an office visit or original documents may still be required. Fees and deadlines depend on the specific procedure. The Code des communications électroniques gives every person a right to communication services and requires access to universal services on quality and affordable conditions. Providers must present tariffs and usage conditions transparently, identify users and address network incidents. Senegal's data-protection framework is based on Loi 2008-12 and the CDP. Communication services and public-facing institutions must take accessibility into account, but implementation remains uneven. Where no specialised relay, TTY or nationwide sign-language service is available, telephone, SMS, email, websites, in-person contact or an authorised trusted person may provide a functional alternative depending on the procedure. For a service dispute, keep the contract, payment record, message, tracking number, dates and names of contacts. Complain first in writing to the provider or La Poste. For telecommunications and postal complaints, ARTP accepts complaints through its online platform, contact@artp.sn and 800 800 200 and may investigate quality, mediate, resolve disputes or require corrective action. Postal complaints can also be filed at the dispatch office or the Centre d'échange des Colis Postaux Dakar Messagerie. Send personal-data complaints to the CDP. Use police 17 for fraud or threats and fire services 18 for an acute emergency.