Telecommunications Sector: The Regulatory Director Highlights Strong Performance and Sustained Investment Momentum

As a guest at the weekly press conference hosted by the Government Information and Communication Center (CICG), titled “All You Need to Know,” on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, the Director of Telecommunications Regulation at the Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications in Côte d'Ivoire (ARTCI), Guy-Michel Kouakou, shared positive performance indicators and a robust investment trend in the sector.

According to Mr. Kouakou, the health of the telecommunications sector is crucial to Côte d'Ivoire's economic and social development. He explained that this performance is reflected in increased revenue and investment, expanded infrastructure, reduced consumer prices, and widespread access to services.

Specifically, the sector’s total revenue grew from 940 billion FCFA in 2019 to 1,219 billion FCFA in 2023, and total investments in infrastructure and technology reached 2.4 billion FCFA in 2023.

Regarding telecommunications infrastructure, Côte d'Ivoire has a total of 30,240 km of fiber optic cable as of March 31, 2024. Coverage now includes 8,080 localities out of 8,518, representing a coverage rate of 94.86%. Mobile telephony penetration has reached 181.1%, with 57,195,791 mobile subscribers, and Internet access reached 74% of households in 2023—a 21% increase over 2022.

Guy-Michel Kouakou assured that ARTCI remains vigilant in maintaining this positive momentum and continues to foster a regulatory environment that supports investment, competition, innovation, and digital inclusion, aiming to meet current needs and address future challenges.