(Ecofin Agency) - Digital transformation is a key priority for the Beninese government. For instance, the government plans to allocate CFA16.4 billion to digital projects in 2025.

The government of Benin plans to connect 18 additional municipalities to the fiber optic network by mid-2025 as part of its goal to provide high-speed internet access to all 77 municipalities in the country. This announcement was made by Aurelie Adam Soulé Zoumarou, Minister of Digital Economy and Digitalization, during the "PAG 2021-2026: Accountability" program on national television on Thursday, November 21.

According to the minister, the extension of fiber optic connections to these new municipalities will help strengthen the national backbone, which currently links 50 municipalities across about 2,550 kilometers. In the long term, the government aims to cover a total of 3,300 kilometers with fiber optic cables. Additionally, nine other municipalities will be connected using alternative technologies.

This initiative is part of a broader government project to expand high and very high-speed internet coverage throughout the entire country, with a focus on reaching populations and businesses through both public and private investments. The project is estimated to cost about CFA207 billion (around $330.63 million) and is aligned with the government's 2021-2026 action plan. The government aims to transform Benin into West Africa’s digital services hub, driving growth and social inclusion.

The government’s plan could significantly improve telecommunications coverage in the country, particularly in internet access. The government reports a 90% coverage rate for 4G, a figure confirmed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Additionally, 2G and 3G networks cover 98% and 90% of the population, respectively. The 5G network is currently in the early stages of commercialization.

As for internet usage, the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARCEP) reported 11.06 million mobile internet subscribers and 20,000 fixed internet users as of June 2024, within a population of about 13.7 million, according to the World Bank (2023). The number of mobile phone subscriptions stands at 17.8 million, with 1,363 fixed-line telephone users. However, the ITU estimates internet and mobile phone penetration rates of 33.8% and 53.9%, respectively, at the end of 2023.