Satellite Internet in Benin

Satellite Internet Access Service

A land of savannahs, mangroves and forests, Benin lies in Africa’s West with a southern coastline on the Gulf of Guinea. The coast is home to the majority of the population of just under 11.5 million. Benin is heavily reliant upon its cotton trade and subsistence farming and this has spurred the government to look at diversification of the economy. It is planning increased foreign investment and to develop tourism, agriculture and ICT within the country.

As in other countries in Africa, mobile phone use has skyrocketed. Fixed line penetration stands at 0.8 percent, whilst mobile phone penetration is at 90 percent, and this is the means that most people use to connect to the Internet. The majority of telecoms investment goes straight into the mobile sector and there is growing use of different mobile applications such as m-commerce and m-banking. The government is also investing in Benin Smart City, which will be built in Cotonou. It is hoped that this new, digital City will become a hub for the development of ICT in West Africa and it will host data centres, incubation centres for start-ups, conference venues and companies.

Attractive Tourist Destination

Tourism is also set to be an important part of Benin’s future. With wildlife parks such as the Penjari National Park already attracting a good amount of tourists, Benin is looking to develop this eco-tourism sector. It is also developing a 36km stretch of its coastline entitled ‘The Fishing Road’ which will feature top class, world renowned hotels, a wildlife park and golf courses. Communications and connectivity will be critical in enabling the tourist industry in Benin to thrive. From the development phase where there is little infrastructure right through to when the plans come to fruition, satellite can help to connect tourists, wildlife park rangers, and those operating in more remote locations, not to mention hotel networks.

Challenges in the Rural Areas

At present, the supply of electrical power to remote areas is a real challenge for the Benin authorities and has been somewhat of a hurdle in the development of infrastructure within the country. VSAT networks have the potential to provide connectivity even where there is no power. The systems are extremely quick to deploy and offer instant communications.

At BusinessCom Networks, we can provide connectivity that can transform Benin’s blossoming tourism industry. Whether you are a tour guide in a wildlife park, a hotel owner taking bookings or a tourist that simply wants to keep friends updated on your holiday through Facebook, our VSAT solutions can provide cutting edge technology in the most cost-effective way possible.

BusinessCom offers the following satellite internet services in Benin: