Benin Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Publication Date: May 2025

Report Pages: 169

Lead Analyst: Henry Lancaster

Contributing Analyst: Peter Lange

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Summary
Table Of Contents

Benin’s mobile network operators extend 5G trials

Benin’s telecom market is dominated by the mobile sector, which accounts for the vast majority of voice lines and internet connections. The fixed-line infrastructure remains poor, and most investment in the sector is being channelled to strengthen fibre connectivity. As a result, fixed-line connectivity is increasingly via VoIP while most fixed broadband subscriptions are via fibre.

Considerable changes have occurred in the mobile sector, which was long a duopoly between Moov and MTN since the closure of services from Glo Mobile and Libercom in 2018. The national infrastructure operator SBIN secured a license to provide mobile services and in cooperation with Sonatel Group it set up Celtiis Benin as a third MNO. The operator launched services in October 2022 and has since effectively competed against MTN Benin and Moov, securing a 10.6% share of the market by subscribers as of March 2024. The company is aiming to provide 80% population coverage with its 5G-compatible network.

Improved international internet connectivity has contributed to a reduction in end-user pricing, and provided the potential to transform many areas of the country’s economy, bringing a greater proportion of the population into the orbit of internet commerce and connectivity. A 2,000km fibre project started in 2016 was finally completed in mid-2021, prompting the government to secure a loan to build additional fibre infrastructure connecting four of the country’s 12 departments.

Key developments:

MTN Benin secures CFA65 billion to upgrade network systems and deploy new technologies including 5G.
Public-owned MNO Celtiis secures a 10.6% share of the mobile market within a year of launching services.
SpaceX’s satellite internet subsidiary Starlink launches satellite broadband services in Benin.
Benin’s MNOs expand 5G trials.
Free-roaming initiative between Benin, Ghana and Mali comes into effect, reducing communication costs for citizens traveling between the countries.
Report update includes the regulator's annual report for 2023 and market data to March 2024, telcos' operating data to Q2 2024, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, recent market developments.

Companies mentioned in this report:

MTN, Moov (Telecel), Libercom, BBCom (Bell Benin), Glo Mobile (Globacom), be.Telecoms (Bénin Télécoms, formerly OPT), Kanakoo (BeninNet), Isocel, EIT, FirstNet, Arts Bobo, Sobiex Informatique, Global Trading Agency, Afripa Telecom, Thuraya, Nitel, Suburban Telecom, CEB.

Key statistics
Regional Africa Market Comparison

Market characteristics
Market Leaders
Market Challengers
Market Emergents
TMI vs GDP
Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration

Country overview
Telecommunications market

Market analysis

Regulatory environment

Regulatory authority

ARCEP

Fixed network developments

West African common regulatory framework 2005
Ministry of Digital and Digitalisation

Mobile network developments

Mobile Number Portability (MNP)
Spectrum auction – 2013
Roaming
SIM card registration

Mobile market

Market analysis
Mobile statistics
Mobile infrastructure

5G
4G (LTE)
3G
Other infrastructure developments
Mobile data
Mobile broadband

Major mobile operators

MTN Benin (Spacetel Benin, Areeba)
Moov
Celtiis Benin
Libercom (Benin Telecoms)
BBCom (Bell Benin)
Glo Mobile Benin (Globacom)

Mobile content and applications

m-banking
m-payment
m-health

Fixed-line broadband market

Introduction and statistical overview
Broadband statistics
Public Internet Access Locations

Telecentres

Fixed-line broadband technologies

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
Fibre broadband networks
Fixed wireless (Wi-Fi and WiMAX)
Broadband Powerline (BPL)
Satellite broadband
Benin Internet Service Providers Association (AFAIB)
Benin Internet Society

Fixed network operators

be.Telecoms (Bénin Télécoms)

Telecommunications infrastructure

Overview of the national telecom network

Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
CDMA2000 Wireless Local Loop (WLL)
National fibre backbone
Terrestrial fibre

International infrastructure

Submarine fibre
Satellite

Smart infrastructure

Appendix – Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports

List of Tables

Table 1 – Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Benin – 2024 (e)
Table 2 – Telecom market investment by sector (CFA billion) – 2012 – 2023
Table 3 – Development of fixed-line and mobile revenue (CFA billion) – 2012 – 2023
Table 4 – Change in mobile revenue by operator (CFA billion) – 2012 – 2023
Table 5 – Development of mobile market investment – 2012 – 2023
Table 6 – Mobile market investment by operator (CFA million) – 2018 – 2020
Table 7 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Table 8 – Change in the number of prepaid and contract mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2022
Table 9 – Change in the mobile market share of subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2021
Table 10 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers by platform – 2019 – 2024
Table 11 – Increase in mobile data traffic – 2018 – 2024
Table 12 – Change in average mobile data traffic per subscriber – 2022 – 2024
Table 13 – Change in the market share of mobile data traffic by operator – 2022 – 2024
Table 14 – Decline in SMS traffic – 2012 – 2024
Table 15 – Change in the market share of SMS traffic by operator – 2022 – 2024
Table 16 – Growth in the number of mobile internet subscribers – 2012 – 2024
Table 17 – Increase in the number of mobile internet subscribers by operator (thousand) – 2012 – 2021
Table 18 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2013 – 2027
Table 19 – Change in the share of mobile internet connections by platform – 2020 – 2022
Table 20 – Change in the number of mobile internet subscribers by platform (million) – 2019 – 2022
Table 21 – Change in the mobile market share of revenue by operator – 2018 – 2023
Table 22 – Change in the number of MTN Benin’s mobile sites by technology – 2016 – 2023
Table 23 – Growth in the number of MTN Benin’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2024
Table 24 – Growth in the number of MTN Benin’s mobile subscribers (regulator data) – 2017 – 2024
Table 25 – Decline in MTN Benin’s mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2024
Table 26 – Development of MTN Benin’s financial data (ZAR million) – 2012 – 2024
Table 27 – Growth in the number of Moov’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2024
Table 28 – Growth in the number of active m-money subscribers by provider (million) – 2016 – 2024
Table 29 – Increase in the value of m-money transactions by provider (CFA million) – 2017 – 2024
Table 30 – Change in the market share of m-money transactions by provider – 2017 – 2024
Table 31 – Increase in the number of m-money agents and accepting merchants – 2020 – 2024
Table 32 – Change in the market share of m-money revenue by provider – 2020 – 2024
Table 33 – Change in fixed broadband revenue – 2020 – 2023
Table 34 – Growth in the number of internet users and penetration – 2012 – 2021
Table 35 – Change in the number of internet subscribers by technology (thousand) – 2012 – 2024
Table 36 – Change in the number of fixed internet subscribers by operator – 2014 – 2023
Table 37 – Change in the number of DSL subscribers – 2012 – 2023
Table 38 – Increase in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2020 – 2023
Table 39 – Change in the number of Isocel’s broadband subscribers – 2014 – 2023
Table 40 – Decline in Bénin Télécoms’ revenue – 2012 – 2019
Table 41 – Change in Benin Telecoms’ fixed-line revenue by type (CFA billion) – 2016 – 2019
Table 42 – Development of fixed-line and mobile voice traffic (million minutes) – 2012 – 2023
Table 43 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2012 – 2027
Table 44 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service by type – 2012 – 2023
Table 45 – Increase in international internet bandwidth – 2012 – 2020
Table 46 – Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity – 1999 – 2011
Table 47 – Historic - Internet users and penetration rate – 1999 – 2011
Table 48 – Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate – 1999 – 2011
Table 49 – Historic - CDMA broadband subscribers – 2009 – 2016
Table 50 – Historic - Fixed-line and mobile revenue (CFA billion) – 2006 – 2011
Table 51 – Historic - Mobile market investments – 2006 – 2011
Table 52 – Historic - Mobile internet subscribers by operator – 2008 – 2011
Table 53 – Historic - MTN Benin subscribers and ARPU – 2003 – 2011
Table 54 – Historic - Mobile internet subscribers – 2009 – 2011
Table 55 – Historic - Libercom subscribers – 2011 – 2018
Table 56 – Historic - BBCom subscribers – 2011 – 2015
Table 57 – Historic - Glo Mobile subscribers – 2011 – 2017
Table 58 – Historic - International internet bandwidth – 2000 – 2011
Table 59 – Historic - Internet subscribers by technology – 2009 – 2011
Table 60 – Historic - DSL subscribers – 2004 – 2011
Table 61 – Historic - WiMAX broadband subscribers – 2013 – 2015
Table 62 – Historic - Benin Telecoms revenue – 2007 – 2011
Table 63 – Historic - Fixed lines in service by type – 2006 – 2011

List of Charts

Chart 1 – Africa Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Leaders
Chart 2 – Africa – Market Leaders global ranking
Chart 3 – Africa Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Challengers
Chart 4 – Africa – Market Challengers global ranking
Chart 5 – Africa Telecoms Maturity Index – Market Emergents
Chart 6 – Africa – Market Emergents global ranking
Chart 7 – Africa – Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 8 – Africa – Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 – Africa – Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 – Telecom market investment by sector – 2012 – 2023
Chart 11 – Development of fixed-line and mobile revenue – 2012 – 2023
Chart 12 – Change in mobile revenue by operator – 2012 – 2023
Chart 13 – Development of mobile market investment – 2012 – 2023
Chart 14 – Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration – 2012 – 2027
Chart 15 – Change in the number of prepaid and contract mobile subscribers – 2013 – 2022
Chart 16 – Change in the mobile market share of subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2021
Chart 17 – Change in the number of mobile subscribers by platform – 2019 – 2024
Chart 18 – Increase in mobile data traffic – 2018 – 2024
Chart 19 – Change in the market share of mobile data traffic by operator – 2022 – 2024
Chart 20 – Decline in SMS traffic – 2012 – 2024
Chart 21 – Change in the market share of SMS traffic by operator – 2022 – 2024
Chart 22 – Growth in the number of mobile internet subscribers – 2012 – 2024
Chart 23 – Increase in the number of mobile internet subscribers by operator – 2012 – 2023
Chart 24 – Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration – 2013 – 2027
Chart 25 – Change in the number of mobile internet subscribers by platform – 2019 – 2022
Chart 26 – Change in the mobile market share of revenue by operator – 2018 – 2023
Chart 27 – Change in the number of MTN Benin’s mobile sites by technology – 2016 – 2023
Chart 28 – Growth in the number of MTN Benin’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2024
Chart 29 – Decline in MTN Benin’s mobile ARPU – 2012 – 2024
Chart 30 – Development of MTN Benin’s financial data – 2012 – 2024
Chart 31 – Growth in the number of Moov’s mobile subscribers – 2012 – 2024
Chart 32 – Growth in the number of active m-money subscribers by provider – 2016 – 2024
Chart 33 – Increase in the value of m-money transactions by provider (CFA million) – 2017 – 2024
Chart 34 – Change in the market share of m-money transactions by provider – 2017 – 2024
Chart 35 – Increase in the number of m-money agents and accepting merchants – 2020 – 2024
Chart 36 – Change in the market share of m-money revenue by provider – 2020 – 2024
Chart 37 – Change in fixed broadband revenue – 2020 – 2023
Chart 38 – Growth in the number of internet users and penetration – 2012 – 2021
Chart 39 – Change in the number of internet subscribers by technology – 2012 – 2024
Chart 40 – Change in the number of fixed internet subscribers by operator – 2014 – 2023
Chart 41 – Change in the number of DSL subscribers – 2012 – 2023
Chart 42 – Increase in the number of fibre broadband subscribers – 2020 – 2023
Chart 43 – Decline in Benin Telecoms’ revenue – 2012 – 2019
Chart 44 – Change in Benin Telecoms’ fixed-line revenue by type – 2016 – 2019
Chart 45 – Development of fixed-line and mobile voice traffic – 2012 – 2023
Chart 46 – Decline in the number of fixed lines in service and teledensity – 2017 – 2027
Chart 47 – Change in the number of fixed lines in service by type – 2012 – 2023
Chart 48 – Increase in international internet bandwidth – 2012 – 2020

List of Exhibits

Exhibit 1 – Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Africa
Exhibit 2 – Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 – Africa – Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 – Africa – Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 – Africa – Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 – Map of Benin

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Benin Telecoms Market Report

Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses

Purchase this Report

Benin’s mobile network operators extend 5G trials

Key developments:

Companies mentioned in this report:

Key statistics

Regional Africa Market Comparison

Country overview

Telecommunications market

Regulatory environment

Mobile market

Fixed-line broadband market

Fixed network operators

Telecommunications infrastructure

Appendix – Historic data

Glossary of abbreviations

Related reports

Purchase this Report

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Research Methodology

Hot Topics

News & Views