Fixed telephony

For fixed telephony, there are three access modes in Benin:
- The traditional system of RTC which assumes a fixed line
and a subscription from an operator;
- Telephony over the Internet - usually on a network up
rate ADSL - which requires a subscription to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and the use of software installed on the computer or terminal equipment;
- The phone via a cable network, which means being located in a cabled area, a subscription to a cable operator and an appropriate modem.

The phone is a way to access to major customers; three types of actors are competing more or less strongly depending on the country: Telecom operators, ISPs and cable operators.

In Benin, there is only one operator for fixed telephony: Benin Telecoms SA. This is a public company with a commercial legal status and financial autonomy (Statutes approved by Decree No. 89-125 of 25 April 1989).

The conventional fixed network in Benin is characterized by local networks of telephone cables, wireless networks in CDMA wireless local loop and community telephony that has seen its development centered on the public payphone and private telecentres. The development of private telecentres took place to the detriment of public payphones whose numbers has decreased from 797 in 2004 to 676 in 2007 with 121 lines out public activities.

In addition, rural telephony is still underdeveloped despite the efforts deployed with VSAT equipment by Benin Telecoms SA. The VSAT satellite communications includes nineteen (19) stations and one HUB installed in the town of Abomey-Calavi. On the whole network, only one station is functional. Repair and commissioning of the others VSAT will improve telephone access in rural areas.

Since 2008, international telecommunications are managed by each operator installed in Benin. The private operators of GSM networks (MOOV, MTN, GLO and BBCOM) have the possibility to establish direct international connections with other operators or transit through Benin Telecoms SA for international communications. Benin Telecoms SA manages its international communications through the International Transit Centre (ITC) type MT20 THOMSON based in Cotonou and Porto-Novo type EWSD. The two international transit centers are linked by digital circuits stations in Optical Fibers and use transmission supports that are: earth station antenna oriented to the satellite INTELSAT VI F3, transmission links optical fiber with neighboring countries (Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Togo) and the Submarine cable (CSM).