Increasing Broadband Internet Penetration
In the OIC Member Countries
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Cote d’Ivoire is a country challenged by low income distribution, low fixed broadband
coverage and penetration, high 3G coverage but low 4G coverage, and medium mobile
broadband adoption. Kazakhstan is a middle-income country with high fixed and mobile
coverage (both 3G and 4G) and medium service adoption. Finally, Saudi Arabia is a high-
income country, with high supply and demand of fixed and mobile broadband service.
V.1. COTE D’IVOIREThe following case study assesses the state of broadband services in the Cote d’Ivoire. It
assesses the trends in demand and supply, the broadband industry structure, and the state of
investment and technology infrastructure. Broadband plays an important role in driving the
country’s economic growth and overall prospects. On the economic side, telecommunications
can increase the inter-linkages among Ivoirian enterprises as well as facilitate their exports.
Additionally, telecommunications can improve the productivity of small farmers by enhancing
their access to inputs while facilitating market reach. From a development standpoint,
broadband can serve to enhance the delivery of public services (e.g., education, health),
improve social inclusion of rural populations, and enhance the economic prospects of the
urban poor.
V.1.1. Demand for Broadband Service
Fixed and mobile broadband usage ratesThe adoption of broadband services in Cote d’Ivoire is a fairly recent phenomenon. The
diffusion of fixed broadband begun in 2003. The initial rate of growth was modest until 2009,
with adoption increasing at a rapid pace from 2010 to 2014. However, as table 38 indicates,
despite the high growth that took place through 2014, fixed broadband penetration has only
reached 3.72% of households.
Table 38: Fixed broadband lines (2003-2016)
2003 2007 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Lines 413 10,000 10,000 27,123 73,564 119,526 133,982 126,857 109,707 101,955
Percent
household (%) 0.02 0.44 0.42 1.11 2.94 7.82 5.13 4.74 4.00 3.72
Sources: International Telecommunications Union; Autorité de régulation des télécommunications/TIC de Cote d’Ivoire;
Telecom Advisory Services analysisOn the other hand, mobile broadband has the potential to become the dominant mode of
Internet access in the country, reaching 7.5 million subscribers in 2Q2016 after launching only
in 2011 (see table 39).
Table 39: Mobile broadband subscriptions (2011-2016)
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 (2Q) CAGR Subscriptions 52,741 143,291 3,000,000 5,108,718 8,602,170 7,498,587 170 %
Percent Population(%) 0.27 0.72 14.77 24.56 40.39 32.09 160 %
Sources: GSMA Intelligence; Autorité de régulation des télécommunications/TIC de Cote d’Ivoire; Telecom Advisory
Services analysis