Benin ICT Sector Performance Review 2009/2010
Table 3: Evolution and distribution of the total number of mobile telephones per operator.
Years
GSM
Operators
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
MTN
139.216
155.000
225.000
450.000
MOOV
108.766
135.993
175.000
7.000
25.000
0
BELL BENIN
GLO MOBILE
LIBERCOM
TOTAL
EVOLUTION (%)
2008
2009
790.097
1.182.014
1.578.786
272.106
693.941
978.470
1.357.838
45.000
172.000
371.576
709.987
849.359
0
0
0
0
564.052
1.097.958
68.407
73.870
75.000
84.279
196.163
190.843
149.408
323.389
389.863
520.000
978.385
2.051.777
3.625.366
5.033.349
58,33
20,55
33,38
88,15
109,71
76,69
38,84
Source: Survey data.
It emerges from this table that GSM mobile telephony experienced very significant development in
Benin. Indeed, with a total number of users estimated at 323,398 in 2003, the number of GSM
mobile subscribers increased to 5,003,349 in 2009 (a rise of 1456%).
In the Internet market, there are only eight Internet access providers to respond to all market
demands. They are Bénin Télécom SA, Isocel Télécom, Connecteo Bénin, Pharaon Services Plus,
Communitec, OTI, Firsnet and Campus Numérique Francophone (only for the university
community). The service offering appears in form of a pyramid. Bénin Télécom SA is found at the
top, followed by the Internet Access Providers. Finally, the bottom of this pyramid is made up of
Internet cafés.
Indeed, with a total
number of users
estimated at 323. 398
in 2003, the number
of GSM mobile
subscribers increased
to 5. 003. 349 in 2009
(a rise of 1456%)!
Certain GSM network operators, notably Moov, MTN and Global Com, offer an Internet connection
to their customers and can increasingly be considered Internet access providers. The table below
presents the total number of Mobile Internet subscribers in 2009.
Table 4: Total number of mobile Internet subscribers.
Operators
Number of Subscribers (September 2009)
MTN
105.875
Moov
22.121
Glo
4.341
Total
132.337
Source: ATRPT.
The situation of connecting Benin internationally consists of:
•
nine specialised links of 64 kbps (cable),
•
two specialised links of 128 kbps (cable),
•
one specialised link of 1 mbps (cable),
•
eight specialised links of 64 kbps (wireless),
•
four specialised links of 128 kbps (wireless) and
•
one specialised link of 256 kbps (wireless).
The advent of SAT3/WASC/SAFE fibre optic connections has helped strengthen infrastructure for
international telecommunication, notable through the increase in the national bandwidth speed,
which today is at 155 megabytes/second and via fibre optic connection between international
telecommunication centres, the Republic of Togo, the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Burkina Faso.
The same type of connection to Niger with an extension to Mali is underway. The two international
transit centres are linked by fibre optic digital circuits.
The audiovisual market presents the same configuration as that of the Internet, with a few
television channels that offer their services. Only the radio broadcasting and IT markets break this
mould because of much higher numbers of suppliers in these two markets.
9
The advent of SAT3/
WASC/SAFE fibre
optic connections has
helped strengthen
infrastructure for
international
telecommunication,
notably through the
increase in the
national bandwidth
speed, which today is
at 155 megabytes/
second and via fibre
optic connection
between international
telecommunication
centres, the Republic
of Togo, the Federal
Republic of Nigeria
and Burkina Faso