Côte d'ivoire Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in côte d'ivoire, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Telecommunication Equipment and Services
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This is a top prospect sector for this country, as its services heavily impact the ability of other sectors to perform business activities.

Overview

Côte d’Ivoire has one of the most developed telecommunications sectors in West Africa.  The telecom sector remained resilient. The sector constitutes approximately 11 percent of GDP and annually contributes tax revenue of approximately $900 million. 

The Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Côte d’Ivoire (ARTCI)’s 2022 annual report stated the cellular penetration rate was 164.5 percent – confirming that many of Côte d’Ivoire’s 29 million people have more than one cellular phone account.  Between 2021 and 2022, the number of subscribers increased by 5.9 percent.  Almost 100 percent of mobile accounts are pre-paid, and most people have at least two SIM cards, often for different mobile networks to benefit from advantages offered by each company.     

There are three major mobile phone operators (Orange (French), MTN (South African), MOOV (Moroccan)) providing service to a total of 49 million accounts.  ARTCI estimates 2G and 3G service covers over 92.9 percent of the territory, and 4G covers approximately 63.7 percent.  The OpenCitiesInitiative.com estimates the greater Abidjan metro area is home to nearly six million inhabitants.  Currently, no companies offer 5G service, though the government has expressed the intention to bring 5G service online in 2023.  Orange, MTN, MOOV, and Wave, are the main mobile money transfer companies.  The mobile money penetration rate is 86 percent and expected to rise with more vendors and service providers utilizing mobile payments.  The number of mobile money subscribers increased by 13 percent from 2021 to 2022.  Approximately one percent of the population has a fixed telephone line. 

Over 98 percent of Ivoirians who access the internet do so via mobile devices.  Orange, MTN, and MOOV all offer mobile internet services.  Mobile internet subscribers increased 18 percent between 2021 and 2022, and the sector realized a 31 percent increase in revenue.  Residential and business demand for fixed internet subscriptions is small but growing, with fixed internet subscriptions increasing 11.3 percent from 2021 to 2022.  Currently, only Orange, MTN, MOOV, Konnect Africa, GVA and VIPNET are service providers.  The market comprises fixed LTE services (65 percent), ADSL (10 percent), and fiber-to-home (25 percent). 

The country developed a free zone dedicated to innovation, information technology and communication, and biotechnology, offering attractive tax incentives (no taxes), zero percent of customs duties, land for emphyteutic lease at competitive rates and offices immediately available.

Leading Sub-Sectors

The best prospects for potential sales include:

  • Wireless network equipment and related services
  • GSM solutions and applications
  • Digital payment applications and services
  • Datacenters
  • Fiber-optic cables
  • Billing solutions (software)
  • Mobile banking technologies
  • Cybersecurity solutions

Opportunities

The Ivoirian telecommunications market is growing and will need suppliers for the full range of telecommunications services and equipment, to include copper and fiber optic cables, central office switches, cellular stations, data communications satellites, microwave communication equipment, and data management solutions. American companies will also find opportunities in developing data centers and cybersecurity solutions.

Resources

  • Africa IT & Telecom Forum
  • Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy  
  • Côte d’Ivoire’s Investment Promotion Centre (CEPICI)
  • Association of Technology Information and Communications Operators in Côte d’Ivoire
  • Union of Telecommunications Businesses in Côte d’Ivoire
  • West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly
  • African Telecommunications Union
  • African Forum for Utility Regulators
  • Côte d’Ivoire Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • National Office for Technical Studies and Development (BNETD)
  • Ivoirian Customs Office
  • Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of Côte d’Ivoire (ARTCI)
  • Biotechnology and ITC free zone