• Togo mandates data rollover, extends SIM validity to six months

• Operators must bill mobile internet usage strictly in bytes

• Reform aligns with regional rules, boosts consumer protections

Togo’s telecommunications regulator has introduced new billing rules for the country’s two mobile operators, Yas Togo and Moov Africa Togo, covering data rollover, billing transparency and SIM card validity.

The Autorité de régulation des communications électroniques et des postes (ARCEP) said on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, that consumers will now be able to carry over unused voice and data from expired plans. A 10-day grace period applies to plans valid for 10 days or less, while a 30-day period applies to longer plans. Unused balances can be reclaimed only if customers subscribe again to the same plan.

ARCEP also requires operators to bill mobile internet usage exclusively in bytes, the smallest standard unit of data measurement. “This ensures that usage matches billing precisely,” the regulator said.

The validity period for inactive SIM cards has been extended from three months to six months. ARCEP added that remaining airtime on the main account will not expire as long as the SIM card remains active.

The regulator said the rules were adopted in consultation with both operators and consumer groups, including the Ligue des consommateurs du Togo (LCT), the Association Togolaise des Consommateurs (ATC) and the Mouvement Martin Luther King (MMLK).

The move brings Togo in line with Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, which have already regulated mobile plan validity periods. Togo is also the only country in the sub-region to mandate billing strictly in bytes.

Esaïe Edoh