West African cyberspace is characterized by strong inequalities in terms of infrastructure, with coastal countries from the Ivory Coast to Nigeria very well connected to the Internet. Further North, Senegal, also well connected, is surrounded by countries that are less well served. This fragmented space is the centre of competition and complementarity between the countries of the sub-region, at the heart of the strategic interests of foreign powers.
Senegal, Ivory Coast and Togo have experienced significant growth in the number of digital infrastructures on their territories, as evidenced by data centres, fibre optic meshing, submarine cable entry points and the arrival of the 5G network. This rapid development is linked to population growth, increasing Internet needs, massive use of digital technology, political stability and massive investment in the sector by international funders, states and private companies.
Other states are much more marginal to this development, or even completely dependent on other states for access to the Internet. Conversely, this lower level of digital development is linked to a low demography with low incomes, insecurity, which hinder the profitability of investments in this sector.
Senegal's ambition is to become a digital hub in order to be the state at the centre of all connections in the sub-region, which will host data from neighbouring countries and set an example in terms of legislation. China plays a very important role in this development, through its strong financial capacity, its equipment manufacturers Huawei and ZTE and through a narrative that places digital at the centre of the economic, political and social development of emerging countries.
The objective of this presentation is to show, through a mapping of digital infrastructures and data routing protocols, the countries or groups of countries that occupy an important place in the French-speaking West African cyberspace and to question their influence in the datasphere.
Mots clés : Senegal|telecoms infrastructures|5G|geopolitics |Internet's roads
A104496CE