Benin Telecommunications Sector Performance Review 2007

Benin
work operators in Benin. According to consumers’ associations, the
operators apply high tariffs which do not take into account the purchasing
power in the country. It should be added that to date there is no
autonomous body that can monitor the anti-competitive practices.
ACCESS TO SCARCE RESOURCES
From the respondents’ perspective, as far as GSM mobile telephony is
concerned, access to scarce resources is satisfactory (3.3).
Sub-Sub Heading UNIVERSAL SERVICE OBLIGATION
The universal service obligation remains an objective which is far from
being achieved in the areas of mobile telephony. This is reinforced by the
average score allocated by the respondents (2.0). The geographical coverage
rate for mobile networks estimated at 18.5% in 2004 is still lower
than 50% in 2006.
GENERAL COMMENT
The regulation of the GSM mobile telephone sector in Benin is relatively
satisfactory with regard to requirements for market entry, interconnection
conditions and access to scarce resources (frequencies, numbering
plan, etc) On the other hand, aspects such as tariff regulations, the fight
against anti-competitive practices and the universal service obligation
need action. This requires the expediting of the establishment of the sector
regulatory agency which is still to be put in place.
TABLE13: SYNTHESIS OF THE ANSWERS ON GSM MOBILE BRANCH
Dimensions
Results
Market entry Fairly satisfied (3.5)
Interconnection Fairly satisfied (3.1)
Access to scarce resources Fairly satisfied (3.3)
Tariff regulations Dissatisfied (2.1)
Universal Service Obligation
Dissatisfied
Source: Survey Results on TRE
VALUE-ADDED SERVICES MARKET: INTER-
NET
The Internet is witnessing an upsurge in the urban centres, particularly
in cities with special status (Cotonou, Porto-Novo and Parakou). However,
the Internet sector is marked by disorganisation due to the absence
of an adequate regulatory framework. At least 47 of the Internet service
providers operate without advance authorisation.
The assessment of the telecommunications regulatory environment in
the Internet sector focused on the following points: competition in terms
of requirements to enter the market, access to resources, tariff regulations
and universal service obligation.
COMPETITION
Competition in the Internet sector in Benin is fairly satisfactory, as
shown by the average score allocated by the participants in the research
2007 Telecommunications Sector Performance Review
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