Market Data
According to the data in Table 3 below, the digital market in Côte d'Ivoire remains a strategic sector for the national economy.
Subscriptions to telecommunications services
Subscriptions to digital services are on a continuous rise, as evidenced by the growth in the number of mobile phone and mobile internet subscriptions. In 2023, the number of mobile subscriptions (active SIM cards) reached 53,601,479, resulting in a penetration rate of 172.2%. Regarding mobile internet, there were 29,171,602 active subscriptions during the same period, corresponding to a penetration rate of 93.7%.
These high penetration rates indicate a strong adoption of digital services, with users often holding multiple mobile numbers to take advantage of the various offerings provided by operators. These elevated rates also reflect the dynamics of the Ivorian mobile telecommunications market, although challenges remain in expanding network coverage in rural areas and achieving digital inclusion.
Revenue and Investments
The sector significantly contributes to the Ivorian economy. Substantial revenues are generated annually through telecommunications activities. For instance, the total revenue for 2023 amounts to over 1.2 trillion FCFA, with more than 75% derived from mobile services (mobile voice, mobile internet, SMS). The revenue recorded in 2023 represents an increase of 8.5% compared to 2022, indicating the robust health of the telecommunications market.
This sector's performance is bolstered by significant investments made by operators and digital service providers. In 2023, the total volume of investments amounts to approximately 244.4 billion FCFA. From 2016 to 2023, the cumulative investments in the sector exceed 1,700 billion FCFA. These investments, particularly in infrastructure, aim to expand network coverage and enhance the quality of services provided to the population.
Affordability of Services:
Regulatory actions undertaken by the ARTCI to promote and establish healthy and fair competition have resulted in a relative decrease in tariffs, thereby making digital services more accessible to a larger number of Ivorians..
In terms of data service affordability, measured as a percentage (%) of Gross National Income (GNI), operators in Côte d'Ivoire offer more affordable packages than the average of ECOWAS countries. In 2022, Côte d'Ivoire's affordability index was 1.71 compared to 6.8 for the ECOWAS average. By 2023, this index decreased to 1.54%, remaining below the affordability threshold recommended by the ITU and the World Bank, which is set at 2%.
For Voice Service: the average price observed for the service decreased from 12.58 FCFA/min to 6.53 FCFA/min, representing a 48% reduction between 2019 and 2024.
For the SMS Service: the average price observed for the SMS service decreased from 1.46 FCFA/SMS to 0.96 FCFA/SMS, representing a 34% reduction between 2019 and 2024.
For mobile Internet service (Data): the average price observed for mobile Internet service (Data) decreased from 0.65 FCFA/MB to 0.41 FCFA/MB, representing a 37% reduction between 2019 and 2024.
The increasing penetration of digital services among populations, the growth in revenue, investments, infrastructure expansion, and the decline in communication tariffs, benefiting consumers, indicate a healthy sector that is essential for the economic and social development of the country.
Evolution of key indicators in the Ivorian telecommunications market (according to operator reports)
| Indicator | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of mobile phone subscriptions | 27,451,250 | 31,747,233 | 33,807,850 | 37,376,603 | 40,095,246 | 44,561,505 | 49,006,419 | 53,601,479 |
| Number of mobile internet subscriptions | 10,360,734 | 13,095,386 | 15,442,012 | 17,021,159 | 19,651,407 | 21,784,106 | 25,732,691 | 29,171,602 |
| Number of fixed internet subscriptions | 136,380 | 142,825 | 175,918 | 216,723 | 260,097 | 335,041 | 385,647 | 424,902 |
| Revenue (Billion FCFA) | 864.2 | 955.3 | 1,065.9 | 998.7 | 979.3 | 1,050.9 | 1,124.1 | 1,219.4 |
| Investments (Billion FCFA) | 330.8 | 183.1 | 174.7 | 147.0 | 169.0 | 185.8 | 278.2 | 244.4 |
Note:
The concept of subscription numbers does not correspond to the number of individuals using these services. It rather refers to the number of active SIM cards (for mobile) and active fixed lines (for fixed telephony).
Active SIM card = number of SIMs that have performed an operation in the last three months prior to the count.
Data on access and usage.
To better assess the level of digital adoption among the Ivorian population, the Regulatory Authority for Telecommunications/ICT of Côte d'Ivoire (ARTCI) conducts an annual survey known as the Information Society Measurement (ISM). This study, carried out according to international standards set by the ITU, periodically provides an overview of the digital maturity of the country.
The results of this study enable public authorities to identify and adjust the tools for planning economic and social development policies. The 2023 edition indicates that:
Internet Access: In 2023, 74% of Ivorian households have access to the Internet, with the majority of connections originating from smartphones.
Individual Internet usage: 41% of individuals (approximately 11 million people) utilize the Internet. Among this group, 75% connect daily, with the most common online activities including social media engagement (85%), information searching, and multimedia content sharing.
Access and Adoption of Mobile Phones: The mobile phone ownership rate remains very high, with 99% of households and 66% of individuals (approximately 17.9 million) owning a phone. Usage is widespread across all regions, although some rural areas exhibit a slightly lower usage rate.
Usage Frequency: The intensity of digital and internet usage, in particular, varies according to age group, place of residence, and education level. Peaks in usage are observed among individuals aged 20 to 35, residing in urban areas, and possessing at least a secondary education.
Some results from the MSI 2023 survey
| Indicator | Total | Urban Area (Total) | Urban Area (Men) | Urban Area (Women) | Rural Area (Total) | Rural Area (Men) | Rural Area (Women) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total target population (5 years and older) | 26,932,474 | 15,421,910 | 7,392,610 | 8,029,300 | 11,510,565 | 5,559,361 | 5,951,204 |
| Number of people using a computer | 5,343,097 | 4,228,744 | 2,468,076 | 1,760,668 | 1,114,353 | 761,612 | 352,742 |
| Number of people using a mobile phone | 18,681,687 | 11,424,494 | 5,539,814 | 5,884,680 | 7,257,193 | 3,775,571 | 3,481,622 |
| Number of people owning a mobile phone | 17,899,012 | 11,083,663 | 5,373,868 | 5,709,795 | 6,815,349 | 3,561,650 | 3,253,699 |
| Number of people owning a smartphone | 10,703,787 | 7,915,072 | 4,075,721 | 3,839,351 | 2,788,715 | 1,779,682 | 1,009,033 |
| Number of people using the Internet | 10,948,818 | 8,121,991 | 4,200,417 | 3,921,574 | 2,826,827 | 1,810,136 | 1,016,691 |
| Number of people making online purchases | 2,220,814 | 1,919,628 | 777,083 | 1,142,545 | 301,186 | 58,620 | 242,567 |
| Number of people with a mobile money account | 12,532,532 | 8,413,990 | 4,398,354 | 4,015,636 | 4,118,542 | 2,525,387 | 1,593,155 |
Perspectives
To support the development of the sector, ARTCI has adopted an ambitious Strategic Plan called CAP 26 since 2023, based on priority areas, including:
Strengthening market studies on economic impacts to support regulatory decisions;
Implementing a comprehensive strategy for continuous improvement of the quality of public telecommunications networks;
Implementing data-driven regulation to ensure collaborative regulation;
Developing observatories on tariffs and customer satisfaction to better understand consumer needs and expectations;
Implementing infrastructure sharing and promoting services for vulnerable individuals;
Establishing a robust cybersecurity framework to protect critical infrastructures;
Creating a favorable ecosystem for cybersecurity with the revision of accreditations, audits, and better awareness among the population;
- Setting up innovation and testing laboratories, such as the certification laboratory for telecom equipment, to support innovation in the sector.
However, with the establishment of ANSSI, the responsibilities assigned to ARTCI regarding cybersecurity should be transferred to this new government agency. Despite this, ARTCI will continue to act towards an even more dynamic and promotional digital sector to provide a solid, fair, and transparent framework for all stakeholders to ensure harmonious development and make digital technology one of the catalysts for the economic growth of our country, in line with the Government's directives.