Senegal's national telecoms company Sonatel has officially launched Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) services locally at an event attended by Orange Group President and CEO Stéphane Richard.

Sonatel's FTTH offering includes high-speed internet access of 20Mbps, with television and fixed telephony.

Richard said, "This is an answer to those who want more speed, more comfort and want to use applications and content requiring a large capacity internet. This service will enable a data speed that is ten times higher than that of asymmetric digital subscriber line."

Sonatel's General Manager Alioune Ndiaye said the launch forms part of the company's plan to deploy 4G across all regional capitals. "This reflects the strong will of the Group to support the digital emergence of the country via the Emerging Senegal Plan."

The FTTH service is already available in Keur Gorgui in Dakar as well as the Plateau, with gradual deployment schedule for remaining districts across Dakar.

Orange contributes to the country's digital schools program and Richard also attended the official opening of the Sonatel Academy, a free coding school and the first of its kind in Senegal.

The main objective of the school is to equip the youth with the skills required by markets competing within the digital economy.

The academy also supports the State in the development and rollout of the Senegal Digital Strategy 2025.

Richard said, "Orange is present in the field of digital education, particularly with the Digital Schools Program, which is well developed in Senegal. With Sonatel Academy, we go even further by deciding to train young people in computer programming."