(Ecofin Agency) - Mobile operator MTN Benin has tasked the Swedish network and telecommunications company to carry out the extension and modernization of its mobile phone network across the country. A $120 million (71 billion CFA Francs) agreement was signed in that regard on October 24 by Stephen Blewett, Managing Director of MTN Benin, and Mame Banda Sene, Ericsson's West Africa representative.

According to the head of MTN Benin, “this modernization aims at a significant improvement of the network through the development of coverage capacities, the establishment of new radio sites in areas not yet covered, the improvement of existing sites through the deployment of sophisticated technologies that will support the Internet, objects, and 5G.”

“Through this project, we will work to make our network more efficient in order to provide large cities with 4G technology and keep our position of fastest Internet connection provider in Benin. We will also consolidate the performance of our 2G and 3G mobile networks and work towards the standardization of 4G across the country,” he added.

In the long term, the project will take into account 853 existing sites and 213 new sites for technological deployment, in particular, the extension of the 3G coverage rate by 97%. This makes 1,066 sites across the country. 4G will cover 61%, the equivalent of 503 sites deployed.