Do you need a licence for two-way radios in Senegal?

The short answer

For most professional two-way radio in Senegal, yes. Running a private radio network requires an authorisation and a frequency assignment from the Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Posts (ARTP) before you put it into service¹. Two further points are worth knowing up front: the radio equipment must be approved by the ARTP before use², and push-to-talk over cellular (PoC) needs no spectrum licence of its own, because it runs on a mobile operator's already-licensed network.

Who regulates radio in Senegal

Radio spectrum in Senegal is managed by the Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Posts (ARTP, Autorité de Régulation des Télécommunications et des Postes), the regulator established under the Electronic Communications Code (Law No. 2018-28 of 12 December 2018). The ARTP assigns frequencies, authorises their use, and approves equipment. Business two-way radio falls under the category of private radio networks (private independent networks), which covers conventional PMR systems, repeaters, base stations, and mobile and portable units operating on assigned frequencies¹.

What needs a licence, and what does not

Needs an authorisation

• A private radio network on assigned VHF/UHF frequencies, such as DMR and analogue systems
• Systems with your own repeaters or base stations
• Most commercial, industrial and organisational deployments

Does not need a frequency assignment

• PoC (push-to-talk over the cellular network), which uses the mobile operator's own licence
• Reception-only equipment

How to apply

The application is made to the ARTP and runs, broadly, as follows¹:

1. Make sure the radios you intend to use are, or will be, approved by the ARTP. A reputable reseller supplies approved models as standard.
2. Submit an application for a private radio network authorisation to the ARTP, with the required documents: a presentation of the applicant, a technical description of the network (frequency bands, channel bandwidth, power, base stations and repeaters), and company identification documents.
3. The ARTP reviews the application, assigns your frequencies, and issues the authorisation against payment of the applicable fees.
4. Operate within the authorised parameters, and apply to renew before the authorisation expires.

In practice, a good reseller will guide or handle most of this for you as part of the project, since they operate on these frequencies routinely.

Cost and validity

Two sets of charges usually apply: the frequency assignment and management fees payable to the ARTP, and the cost of equipment approval. The amounts are set by ARTP regulations and depend on the network and the spectrum assigned¹. We are not quoting a single total here, because it depends on your system and these charges change over time. Confirm the current figures and the authorisation's validity period with the ARTP, or ask your reseller, who will usually know the cost for a fleet of your size. Plan the renewal ahead of the expiry date.

Equipment approval

Separately from the frequency authorisation, radio equipment must be approved by the ARTP before it is used in Senegal. The ARTP publishes a list of approved radio equipment². In practice this means buying models that are already approved, which a reputable local reseller will supply. It is worth checking approval status before importing radios yourself, as non-approved equipment can be held at customs.

Operating without an authorisation

Operating a private radio network without the required authorisation exposes you to penalties under the Electronic Communications Code, ranging from withdrawal of the authorisation to fines¹. Beyond the legal risk, unauthorised transmissions can interfere with other users and be traced, so obtaining the authorisation is simply part of deploying a system that works reliably and lawfully.

How RadioSelect helps

The free needs analysis flags whether your likely solution needs a licence in Senegal, and connects you to a vetted local reseller who handles the ARTP process routinely, so you are not navigating it alone.

Common questions

Do I need a licence for PoC / push-to-talk over cellular in Senegal?

Generally no. PoC runs over a mobile operator's already-licensed network, so there is no separate frequency assignment for you to obtain. You still buy or subscribe to the service, but the spectrum side is covered by the operator.

Which regulator issues two-way radio licences in Senegal?

The Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications and Posts (ARTP). It assigns frequencies and issues the authorisation a private radio network needs.

How much does a radio licence cost in Senegal?

Fees are set by ARTP regulations and depend on the network and spectrum assigned, so there is no single figure. Confirm the current cost with the ARTP, or ask your reseller, who will usually know the cost for a fleet of your size.

Can my reseller arrange the authorisation for me?

In most cases yes. Resellers operate on these frequencies routinely and will typically guide or handle the ARTP application as part of the project.