Digital transformation is a key priority for the Beninese government. For instance, the government plans to allocate CFA16.4 billion to digital projects in 2025.
The government of Benin plans to connect 18 additional municipalities to the fiber optic network by mid-2025 as part of its goal to provide high-speed internet access to all 77 municipalities in the country. This announcement was made by Aurelie Adam Soulé Zoumarou, Minister of Digital Economy and Digitalization, during the "PAG 2021-2026: Accountability" program on national television on Thursday, November 21.
According to the minister, the extension of fiber optic connections to these new municipalities will help strengthen the national backbone, which currently links 50 municipalities across about 2,550 kilometers. In the long term, the government aims to cover a total of 3,300 kilometers with fiber optic cables. Additionally, nine other municipalities will be connected using alternative technologies.
This initiative is part of a broader government project to expand high and very high-speed internet coverage throughout the entire country, with a focus on reaching populations and businesses through both public and private investments. The project is estimated to cost about CFA207 billion (around $330.63 million) and is aligned with the government's 2021-2026 action plan. The government aims to transform Benin into West Africa’s digital services hub, driving growth and social inclusion.
The government’s plan could significantly improve telecommunications coverage in the country, particularly in internet access. The government reports a 90% coverage rate for 4G, a figure confirmed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Additionally, 2G and 3G networks cover 98% and 90% of the population, respectively. The 5G network is currently in the early stages of commercialization.
As for internet usage, the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARCEP) reported 11.06 million mobile internet subscribers and 20,000 fixed internet users as of June 2024, within a population of about 13.7 million, according to the World Bank (2023). The number of mobile phone subscriptions stands at 17.8 million, with 1,363 fixed-line telephone users. However, the ITU estimates internet and mobile phone penetration rates of 33.8% and 53.9%, respectively, at the end of 2023.
Nigeria’s fintech landscape has undergone a seismic shift in recent years, driven largely by persist...
• Benin’s FeexPay and Côte d’Ivoire’s Cinetpay receive BCEAO payment service licenses• Both firms ex...
From Dakar to Nairobi, Kampala to Abidjan, mobile money has become a lifeline for millions of Africa...
Zenith Bank picks Côte d’Ivoire for $90M debut into Francophone Africa, confirming ambition t...
Niger’s economy grew 10.3% in 2024 and is projected to expand 6.6% in 2025. Yet non-performin...
• Togo’s GDP grew 17.7% in Q4 2024• Agriculture, construction, services drove sharp year-end rebound• Electricity, hospitality, and public sector saw...
From Dakar to Nairobi, Kampala to Abidjan, mobile money has become a lifeline for millions of Africans. What started as a tool for sending and receiving...
• Africa's gas output fell 17 bcm in 2024• Algeria led decline due to aging production fields• Delays, underinvestment threaten Africa’s export...
• MSMEs spend $3.5B yearly on generator power in Nigeria• Generator costs consume up to 40% of business expenses Nigeria's national power grid...
The Umhlanga Festival, also known as the “Reed Dance,” is one of the most iconic cultural events in the Kingdom of Eswatini in Southern Africa. Every...
• Nigeria to turn Abuja stadium into culture, sports innovation hub• Project includes museum, arenas, markets, and youth creative center• Gov’t...