Benin’s Telecom Operators Promise 5G Launch, But Consumers Skeptical

(Ecofin Agency) – In February 2023, the state-owned telecom operator Celtiis announced its network was ready for 5G. Now, more than a year and a half later, its rivals in Benin are making the same promise.

MTN and Moov Africa, two of Benin’s top telecom companies, announced on October 16 that they will soon roll out commercial 5G services. However, they did not provide a launch date.

Ce que vous pensiez impossible est maintenant à portée de main.

La 5G de MTN Benin arrive pour vous offrir des connexions plus rapides que jamais. Restez à l’écoute, le futur est déjà là ! ?#MTN5G #TechRevolution #ConnexionUltraRapide pic.twitter.com/DAGxShf8QV

— MTN Benin (@MTNBenin) October 16, 2024

This follows a similar announcement by the state-owned telecom provider, Celtiis, back in February 2023, just four months after its launch. While the government had included a pilot 5G phase in its 2023 agenda, no significant progress has been reported so far.

Consumers are frustrated with these promises, as they already face poor service quality. A report released by Benin’s telecom regulator, ARCEP, between June 1 and 9, 2023, revealed that Celtiis provided better internet data reception compared to its competitors, MTN and Moov Africa. MTN and Moov Africa only met quality standards on two out of three performance indicators, while all providers fell short in data transmission quality.

Un monde de nouvelles possibilités s’ouvre à vous ??

On est prêt pour la 5G, et vous ?

Restez connectés !
#5GMOOVAFRICA #VoirPlusGrand #UnMondeNouveauVousAppelle pic.twitter.com/qMQLGgoeAG

— Moov Africa Bénin (@MoovAfricaBenin) October 16, 2024

While 5G could bring major benefits, such as improved connectivity for homes and businesses, the challenges are significant. Africa is still catching up with 4G, and moving to 5G will not be easy. The global telecom association GSMA warns that failing to adopt 5G could worsen the digital divide between Africa and the rest of the world.

In its report, 5G in Africa: Realizing the Potential, the GSMA highlights that 5G could drive digital transformation, foster innovation, and meet the demands of young consumers. These consumers are increasingly seeking data-heavy services like video streaming, gaming, and metaverse apps. According to ARCEP data, as of Q2 2024, MTN had 6.1 million internet subscribers, Moov Africa had 3.3 million, and Celtiis had 1.7 million.

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