- Reliability
- Moderate
Overall1.2/10Slower internet than about 90% of cities
Good to know
Good to Know
- Physical SIM registration requires a valid passport and mandatory fingerprinting; expect this at operator boutiques in Dakar or the airport.
- e-SIM is the fastest path to connectivity upon arrival—instant digital delivery, no registration friction, works alongside your home SIM.
- Orange Senegal (Sonatel) is the dominant network with the widest national footprint and fastest measured speeds; many expats in Dakar use dual-SIM phones pairing Orange with a cheaper secondary provider (Yas/Free) for data arbitrage.
- Hotel Wi-Fi reliability varies significantly; mobile data (via e-SIM or local SIM) is more dependable for remote work.
- Fixed broadband speeds are split sharply between wired (47 Mbps median) and mobile (11 Mbps median); home fiber in Dakar's central areas is more stable for video calls and uploads than mobile alone.
- 5G is in early-stage deployment (limited Dakar coverage); 4G LTE is the practical standard for mobile in Dakar through 2026.
e-SIM Options
Airalo
- Entry Plan Data GB
- 1
- Entry Plan Cost USD
- 5.5
- Entry Plan Validity Days
- 7
- Notes
- Connects via Orange Senegal; 4G LTE coverage in Dakar and major cities
- Advantages
- Instant digital delivery; no passport registration; hotspot/tethering typically included
- Provider Name
- International e-SIM providers (GoMoWorld, Simology, Cellesim)
- Entry Plan Cost USD
- 3.99-10.99
Mobile Carriers
Orange Senegal (Sonatel)
- Coverage
- 4G/LTE covers 97% of population; strongest urban coverage; fastest measured speeds
- Technology
- 4G LTE, limited 5G in early Dakar deployment
- Market Share
- 57% (market leader)
- SIM Card Cost
- F CFA 1,000
Free Senegal (Yas Brand for Data; Formerly Tigo)
- Coverage
- Solid urban coverage; competitive pricing for data
- Technology
- 4G LTE
- Market Share
- Second largest operator
- SIM Card Cost
- F CFA 500
Expresso Telecom
- Coverage
- Primary strength in mobile money; weaker 3G/4G outside Dakar core
- Technology
- 3G/4G
- Market Share
- Third operator
- SIM Card Cost
- F CFA 700
Connectivity Reliability Tier
moderate
Connectivity Reliability Tier Rationale
Urban Dakar has solid fiber availability, 4G coverage reaching 97% of the population, and e-SIM/SIM ease-of-entry, but measured upload speeds (7.1 Mbps) and median latency (90 ms) lag developed markets, and fiber concentration in city center means peripheral neighborhoods rely on mobile.
Home Broadband
- Coverage Note
- Fiber availability is concentrated in Dakar's urban core; fiber is the standard for remote-work connectivity in the city center.
ADSL
- Speed Mbps
- 4
- Monthly Cost
- F CFA 19,685
- Primary Provider
- Orange Senegal
- Description
- ADSL, legacy fixed-line option with lower speeds
Fiber FTTH
- Speed Mbps
- 50
- Monthly Cost
- F CFA 33,077
- Primary Provider
- Orange Senegal (Sonatel)
- Description
- Fiber-optic to the home (FTTH), the premium standard in Dakar urban areas
Measured Speeds
- Mobile Source
- Mobile device speeds measured H1 2026
- Median Latency Ms
- 90
- Mobile Median Mbps
- 11
- Fixed Broadband Source
- Desktop/wired speeds measured H1 2026
- Fixed Broadband Median Mbps
- 47
- Latency Note
- Visible delay for video calls and screen sharing; acceptable for browsing and streaming
AI-generated estimateData refreshed September 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this connectivity & internet research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Dakar
Data last updated September 2026 · Verify anything important.