The Community Digital Points of Sèmè-Podji, Tanguiéta and Toucountouna were launched on Monday 16 November 2020.
Sèmè-Podji, Tanguiéta and Toucountouna have joined the list of municipalities with a Community Digital Point (PNC). At a ceremony held at the youth centre of the municipality of Sèmè-Podji, these facilities were officially commissioned on Monday 16 November 2020 by Mr Ahmed Sacca YAROU, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Digital Affairs and Digitalisation, representing the Minister, Aurélie ADAM SOULE ZOUMAROU. The event was also attended by Mr Jonas GBENAMETO, Mayor of the municipality of Sèmè-Podji, and Mr Emile KOUGBADI, Director General of the Beninese Agency for Universal Service in Electronic Communications and Postal Services (ABSU-CEP).
Like all the Community Digital Points commissioned in other municipalities, those inaugurated on Monday 16 November 2020 were fully funded by ABSU-CEP and will give people low-cost access to high-speed internet, digital resources and content, and training. Mr Emile KOUGBADI, Director General of ABSU-CEP, explained that all these actions respond to one of the agency’s missions, which is to “ensure access to universal service at an affordable price throughout the national territory.”; In addition to a cyber centre and a very high-quality Wi-Fi connection, each PNC is equipped with transmission, multiplexing, switching and fibre-optic connection equipment via the wireless local loop.
Mr Ahmed Sacca YAROU, Chief of Staff of the Minister of Digital Affairs and Digitalisation, on behalf of the Minister, thanked all the stakeholders in the project, which aims to reduce the digital divide within communities. He also reiterated the Government’s determination to implement structuring projects to realise the ambition of President Patrice TALON, which is to transform Benin into the digital services platform of West Africa for accelerated growth and social inclusion by 2021.
The inauguration of the PNCs of Sèmè-Podji, Tanguiéta and Toucountouna brings the number of PNCs across the national territory to forty-three (43).
The Community Digital Points are open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and the connection costs 150 CFA francs per hour. Access to the Wi-Fi hotspot is open and free of charge.
The forty (40) other Community Digital Points (PNC) are located in the following municipalities: Banikoara, Gogounou, Kandi, Malanville, Segbana, Materi, Kerou, Kouande, Natitingou, Pehunco, Abomey-Calavi, Allada, Ouidah, Bembèrèkè, N’dali, Nikki, Tchaourou, Dassa-Zoumè, Glazoué, Ouèssè, Savalou, Savè, Copargo, Djougou, Ouaké, Comè, Grand-Popo, Adjarra, Adjohoun, Bonou, Dangbo, Akpro-Missérété, Ifangni, Kétou, Pobè, Sakété, Abomey, Covè, Ouinhi, Za Kpota.