As 4G Soars, Togo's Pioneering 5G Network Remains Largely Untapped

ITC

Friday, 07 November 2025 01:36

As 4G Soars, Togo's Pioneering 5G Network Remains Largely Untapped

(Togo First) - Despite being the first country in West Africa to launch 5G, the technology remains marginal in Togo, with only about 1% of active devices compatible with the standard, according to the national regulatory body, ARCEP.

Quarterly observatory data from the Telecommunications and Posts Regulatory Authority (ARCEP) highlight a sharp technological disparity. While 39% of active terminals support 4G, 16% use 3G, and 44% remain on 2G networks. This slow transition underscores a market still restructuring its technological foundation.

Obsolete Devices Slow Modernization

The total number of mobile subscribers continued its rapid expansion, reaching 7.69 million in the fourth quarter of 2024 and 7.99 million by the first quarter of 2025, ARCEP reports indicate. However, this growth is accompanied by a highly heterogeneous device market, as the majority of users rely on older 2G or 3G equipment, often sourced from the gray market.

The regulator noted that unidentifiable terminals spiked by 66% in the second quarter of 2025, following a significant drop of 60.9% in the preceding three months. This volatility suggests that regulating the import of unapproved devices remains a challenge.

4G Dominates While 5G Remains Symbolic

Togo's 5G rollout, initiated by Togocom in November 2020, currently serves more as a symbol of modernization than a reality for everyday use. Operators YAS Togo and Moov Africa Togo continue to focus on expanding 4G coverage. Over the year, the number of 4G subscribers surged by 38% in 2024 and rose another 10% in the first quarter of 2025, nearing 2.9 million total users.

The swift migration to 4G is driving data consumption, with mobile data traffic growing 68% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025 and 33% compared to the previous quarter. Still, 5G adoption is hindered by the lack of a compatible ecosystem and a clear, established business model.

Investment Decline Adds to Hurdles

Multiple obstacles constrain 5G's uptake. The main barriers include the high cost of 5G smartphones, which remain unaffordable for most households, and the availability of radio spectrum. Compounding the challenge is a decline in investment, which fell 34% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025, limiting operators’ ability to prepare for the technological shift.

Togo's government aims to create the conditions for economically viable 5G between 2026 and 2030. These goals include extending fiber optics for tower interconnection, harmonizing spectrum allocation, and opening the network to industrial services such as the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and smart city applications. Realizing this ambition, however, will require stabilizing investments, better oversight of device imports, and stimulating demand for advanced digital services.

Fiacre E. Kakpo

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.