Last October, telecom operator Celtiis entered the Beninese telecom market, which was controlled by MTN Benin and Moov Africa Benin. To establish itself in this market, the newcomer is basing its strategy on technological innovations. 

Mobile operator Celtiis, a subsidiary of state firm Société béninoise d'infrastructures numériques (SBIN), is preparing to deploy fifth-generation (5G) mobile technology. The operator announced that its network is fully compatible with the 5G and the pilot phase is even expected in the coming months.

Celtiis' announcement comes about four months after the company launched its services in the Beninese market. In the market, it joined MTN Benin and Moov Africa Benin, which have officially been operating as a duopoly since 2018.

The 5G pilot phase is one of the major projects included in the Ministry of Digital Economy's 2023 agenda, which budgeted CFAF 31 billion  ($49.9 million) for this year's projects. 5G is part of the company's strategic initiatives to quickly gain a foothold in the domestic market amid high demand for high-speed connectivity. The ultra-fast connectivity speeds that come with 5G are expected to help the telecom operator attract millions of new subscribers.

Once deployed, 5G is expected to accelerate the Beninese government's digital transformation ambitions, including smart homes and buildings, smart cities, e-learning, e-government, 3D video, telemedicine, virtual and augmented reality, streaming, artificial intelligence, and Internet of Things (IoT), among others. However, it is worth noting that in the country, 5G adoption could be slowed by the cost of 5G-compatible devices.   

Isaac K. Kassouwi