Campbell (2002) gives a summary of early internet connectivity issues in Benin.

Campbell, W. Joseph. 2002. "Benin and the Internet." In M.B. Robins and R.L. Hillard, eds., Beyond Boundaries: Cyberspace in Africa. Portsmouth, NH, US: Heinemann. Pp. 45-57.

APC, "ICT Policy in Benin" Africa ICT Policy Monitor, http://rights.apc.org/africa/index.shtml?apc=s21822e_1 ("Politiques de TIC en/au Benin," Observatoire des politiques des TIC en Afrique, )

National languages are written in the Latin alphabet with some additional modified letters (extended characters). A chart showing the extended Latin characters and diacritics used in some Beninese languages is available at: http://www.bisharat.net/A12N/BENIN-table.htm

Language policy / Politique de langue :

ICT policy / Politique de TIC

Localisation policy / Politique de localisation

• WikiEducator has a table on enabling and constraining factors for ICTs in education at http://www.wikieducator.org/ICT4Africa/Country_Report_Benin

UNDP (2006) gives a literacy figure (without reference to which language[s]) of: 34.7%

UNESCO (1985) reported the following periodicals (name, frequency of publication, circulation, language). Updated information is needed:

• Project telecentres / Télécentres de projets:

• Mobile subscriptions:
  • 236,000 (3.4 per 100 people) (ITU 2004 cited in Vodafone 2005)
  • Telephones - mobile cellular: 386,700 (2005) (CIA)
  • GSM companies & coverage : http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/cou_bj.shtml

• Internet hosts : 882 on .bj domains (ISC)

Internet Systems Consortium (ISC), "Distribution of Top-Level Domain Names by Host Country, Jan 2007" http://www.isc.org/index.pl?/ops/ds/reports/2007-02/dist-bynum.php

______, "Communications in Benin," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_in_Benin

• Internet hosts : 867 (2006) (CIA)

U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), "The World Factbook: Benin," https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/bn.html

• Fixed lines:
  • Telephone mainlines: 9 per 1000 people (APC)
  • Telephones - main lines in use: 76,300 (2005) (CIA)

Radio broadcast stations: AM 2, FM 9, shortwave 4 (2000) (CIA)

• According to CIA, "internet hosts" number 867 (2006)

• Internet users / Utilisateurs de l'internet :
  • 100,000 internet users as of Sept/05, 1.3% of the population, per ITU (Internet World Stats)
  • 425,000 (2005) (CIA)

• Benin Development Gateway "Ce portail doit devenir à terme le lieu privilégié d'échange d'expérience dans le domaine du développement au Bénin" http://www.developpementbenin.org/
• WikiEducator has a table on enabling and constraining factors for ICTs in education

Localisation policy / Politique de localisation

U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), "The World Factbook: Benin," https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/bn.html

WikiEducator, "ICT4Africa/Country Report Benin," http://www.wikieducator.org/ICT4Africa/Country_Report_Benin

• Chapitre béninois de l'Internet Society - http://www.isoc.bj/

Institutions & organisations:

• Chapitre béninois de l'Internet Society http://www.isoc.bj/

Benin - Bénin (BJ) http://www.PanAfriL10n.org/wikidoc/flags/BENIN.GIF

< Angola | Countries | Botswana >

APC, "ICT Policy in Algeria" Africa ICT Policy Monitor, http://rights.apc.org/africa/index.shtml?apc=s21822e_1 ("Politiques de TIC en/au Benin," Observatoire des politiques des TIC en Afrique, )

Benin Development Gateway "Ce portail doit devenir à terme le lieu privilégié d'échange d'expérience dans le domaine du développement au Bénin" http://www.developpementbenin.org/

Projects & organisations / Projets et organisations

• International internet bandwidth / Bande passante internationale d'internet :
• ISPs / FSI :
• Geographic coverage / Couverture géographique :

The APC page, "ICT Policy in Benin" has some information and links to documents:

• In English: http://rights.apc.org/africa/index.shtml?apc=s21822e_1
• En français: http://afrique.droits.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21822e_1

Institutions:

• Institut Africain d'Informatique (IAI), Cameroon (also serves Benin)

On the web:

APC, "ICT Policy in Algeria" Africa ICT Policy Monitor, http://rights.apc.org/africa/en.shtml?apc=s21803e_1 ("Politiques de TIC en/au Benin," Observatoire des politiques des TIC en Afrique, ) http://afrique.droits.apc.org/index.shtml?apc=s21822e_1

• Le Bénin et l'Afrique dans la société de l'information http://www.iafric.net/benin/
• Langues Béninoises et les NTIC http://www.quicktopic.com/27/H/UbEFBKa7X46Ra

The APC page, "ICT Policy in Benin" has some information and links to documents: http://rights.apc.org/africa/index.shtml?apc=s21822e_1

• Mobile subscriptions: 493,000 (3.4 per 100 people) (ITU 2004 cited in Vodafone 2005)

Information on Benin's NICI (National Information and Communications Infrastructure) policy is available via http://www.uneca.org/aisi/nici/Benin/benin.htm and http://www.uneca.org/aisi/nici/country_profiles/benin/benab.htm

Digital Opportunity Index (DOI): 0.17 (ITU 2006)

• Fixed lines: Telephone mainlines: 9 per 1000 people (APC)
• Mobile subscriptions: 19 per 1000 people (ITU 2004 cited in Vodafone 2005)

a) Computers & points of access / Ordinateurs et lieux d'accès

• Number of computers / Nombre d'ordinateurs: 1.3 per 1000 people (APC)
• Cybercafés / Cybercafés:
• Project telecentres / Télécentres de projets:

b) Internet / Internet

c) Other / Autre

Digital Opportunity Index (DOI): 0.17 (ITU 2006)

ICT4D/E & ICT training / TIC pour le développement/éducation, et formation en TIC

APC, "ICT Policy in Algeria" Africa ICT Policy Monitor, http://rights.apc.org/africa/en.shtml?apc=s21803e_1

International Telecommunications Union (ITU). 2006. World Information Society Report 2006. Geneva: ITU. http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/publications/worldinformationsociety/2006/wisr-web.pdf

______. 2004. African Telecommunication Indicators 2004. Geneva: ITU.

Vodafone. 2005. "Africa: The Impact of Mobile Phones." The Vodafone Policy Paper Series, Number 3, March 2005. http://www.vodafone.com/assets/files/en/GPP%20SIM%20paper.pdf

Wikipedia, "Benin," http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benin

______, "Bénin," http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bénin

Resources / Ressources

Langues Béninoises et les NTIC http://www.quicktopic.com/27/H/UbEFBKa7X46Ra

a) Official / Officielle(s)

b) National, indigenous / Nationale(s), indigène(s)

c) Relevant pages in the Major Languages section of this report / Pages appropriées dans la section de ce rapport sur les Langues principales

a) Laws/legislation / Lois/législation

b) Agencies / Agences :

c) Languages in education/literacy / Langues dans l'éducation/l'alphabétisation :

a) Orthographies / Orthographes :

b). Print publications / Editions imprimées :

a) Telephones / Téléphones

b) Radio stations / Stations de radio

c). Connectivity / Connectivité

a) Internet / Internet

b) Cybercentres / Cybercentres

c) Project telecentres / Télécentres des projets :

(:toc:)

Language information / Données sur les langues

Languages spoken / Langues parlées

a. Official / Officielle(s)

b. National, indigenous / Nationale(s), indigène(s)

c. Relevant pages in the Major Languages section of this report / Pages appropriées dans la section de ce rapport sur les Langues principales

Policy / Politique :

a. Laws/legislation / Lois/législation

b. Agencies / Agences :

c. Languages in education/literacy / Langues dans l'éducation/l'alphabétisation :

Writing in national/indigenous languages / Ecriture en langues nationales/indigènes

a. Orthographies / Orthographes :

b. Print publications / Editions imprimées :

Other comments / Autre commentaire

ICT situation / Situation des TIC

Infrastructure / Infrastructure

a. Telephones / Téléphones

b. Radio stations / Stations de radio

c. Connectivity / Connectivité

Computer & internet access / Accès aux ordinateurs et à l'internet

a. Internet / Internet

b. Cybercentres / Cybercentres :

c. Project telecentres / Télécentres des projets :

Policy / Politique

ICT4D & ICT training / TIC pour le développement et formation en TIC

Localisation situation / Situation de localisation

Country web content / Contenu web du pays

Web content in indigenous languages / Contenu web en langues indigènes

Software localisation / Localisation de logiciel

References / Références

Benin - Bénin (BJ) http://www.PanAfriL10n.org/wikidoc/flags/BENIN.GIF

This is the localisation, language & ICT profile for Benin. For the BJ-L10n wikigroup, click on the flag.

UNDP. 2006. ''Beyond scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water crisis. Human Development Report 2006.'' New York: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). [Human development index Adult literacy rate (% ages 15 and older) (HDI) http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/statistics/indicators/3.html ]

UNDP (2006) gives a literacy figure (without reference to which language[s]) of: 34.7%

Benin - Bénin

Two institutions "involved in or responsible for African Language research" in Benin (UNESCO 1985). Updated information is needed:

Two institutions "involved in or responsible for African Language research" in Ethiopia (UNESCO 1985). Updated information is needed:

• Département d'études littéraires, linguistiques et de traditions orales (DELTO), Facultés des Lettres, Arts & Sciences humaines, Université nationale du Benin, B. P. 526 - COTONOU
• Commission nationale de linguistique B.P. 348 - COTONOU

UNESCO (1985) reported the following periodicals (name, frequency of publication, circulation, language). Updated information is needed:

• Alladjumose (Cooperation), monthly, 1,500, Yoruba
• Cookanne (Concertation), monthly, 1,000, Waama
• Fitila (Lumiere), monthly, 500, Dendi
• Inbuke (Autre nouvelle), monthly, 600, Adja
• Kparo (Crieur public), monthly, 2,000, Bariba
• Sedonyonwi (Information), monthly, 1,500, Fon

UNESCO Regional Office for Education in Africa. 1985. African Community Languages and Their Use in Literacy and Education: A Regional Survey. Dakar: UNESCO.

• Internet users / Utilisateurs de l'internet : 100,000 internet users as of Sept/05, 1.3% of the population, per ITU (Internet World Stats)

Internet World Stats: Africa. 2006. http://internetworldstats.com/africa.htm

French, as stipulated in the constitution (Aménagement linguistique)

• Fixed lines:
• Mobile subscriptions:

• International internet bandwidth:
• ISPs:
• Geographic coverage:

• Dial-up subscribers / Abonnés par ligne téléphonique :
• Internet users / Utilisateurs de l'internet :

3. Localisation situation / Situation de localisation

3.a. Country web content / Contenu web du pays

3.b. Web content in indigenous languages / Contenu web en langues indigènes

(See also specific language pages.)

3.c. Software localisation / Localisation de logiciel

(See also specific language pages.)

Information on Benin's NICI (National Information and Communications Infrastructure) policy is available via http://www.uneca.org/aisi/nici/Benin/benin.htm and http://www.uneca.org/aisi/nici/country_profiles/benin/benab.htm

Information on Benin's NICI policy is available at http://www.uneca.org/aisi/nici/Benin/benin.htm

A pilot project of the Beninese National Agricultural Research Institute and the German Information and Documentation Centre - RUNetwork (Rural Universal Network) - has set up access centres in two rural towns, Allada and Dassa. "It aims to improve access to ICT in rural areas, including publishing information on the internet." (Balancing Act)

According to Balancing Act, these centres "can be divided into two categories: 'e-mail-first' and web access services." The former offer "store-and-forward" service for e-mail with two or more net connections per day. Examples of such service providers with a large number of computers include: Imedia Informatique (www.beninweb.org), H2COM (www.h2com.com), Cyber Songhai (www.songhai.org), and les Arts Bobo.

Web access services provide direct access to the web, and among the largest are AID DOPHIA (dial-up and PPP connection), EIT and SOBIEX. At the bottom end are providers with a single computer. (Balancing Act)

2.b.3. Project telecentres / Télécentres des projets :

According to Balancing Act, a government initiative will set up telecentres in Cotonou, Porto-Novo and Parakou, which will be "managed by youth associations and are intended to enable low-cost Internet access” (250-300 CFA per hour).

• Fixed lines: 62,700 (2002) (Balancing Act)
• Mobile subscriptions: 236,000 (2003) (Balancing Act)

2.a.1. Telephones / Téléphones :

2.b.2. Cybercentres / Cybercentres :

Balancing Act reports "probably 200 or more" cybercafés in Benin out of which "only about 10 of them have gained much of a public profile." All but three of these connect via dial-up connections.

1.a.2. National, indigenous / Nationale(s), indigène(s) :

1.a.3. Relevant pages in the Major Languages section of this report / Pages appropriées dans la section de ce rapport sur les Langues principales :

1.b. Policy / Politique :

1.b.1. Laws/legislation / Lois/législation :

1.b.2. Agencies / Agences :

1.b.3. Languages in education/literacy / Langues dans l'éducation/l'alphabétisation :

1.c. Writing in national/indigenous languages / Ecriture en langues nationales/indigènes :

1.c.1. Orthographies / Orthographes :

1.c.2. Print publications / Editions imprimées :

1.d. Other comments / Autre commentaire :

2. ICT situation / Situation des TIC

2.a. Infrastructure / Infrastructure

''2.a.1. Telephones / Téléphones :

' Fixed lines: 62,700 (2002) Mobile subscriptions: 236,000 (2003) (Balancing Act'')

2.a.2. Radio stations / Stations de radio :

2.a.3. Connectivity / Connectivité :

• International internet bandwidth: 47 Mbps (2003)
• ISPs: 6 (Balancing Act)
• Geographic coverage: There are POPs in Cotonou, Porto Novo, Bohicon, and Parakou (Balancing Act)

2.b Computer & internet access / Accès aux ordinateurs et à l'internet

2.b.1. Internet / Internet :

• Dial-up subscribers / Abonnés par ligne téléphonique : 6,000 (2003) (Balancing Act)
• Internet users / Utilisateurs de l'internet : 25,000 (2002) (Balancing Act)

2.b.2. Cybercentres / Cybercentres : Balancing Act reports "probably 200 or more" cybercafés in Benin out of which "only about 10 of them have gained much of a public profile." All but three of these connect via dial-up connections.

According to Balancing Act, these centres "can be divided into two categories: 'e-mail-first' and web access services." The former offer "store-and-forward" service for e-mail with two or more net connections per day. Examples of such service providers with a large number of computers include: Imedia Informatique (www.beninweb.org), H2COM (www.h2com.com), Cyber Songhai (www.songhai.org), and les Arts Bobo.

Web access services provide direct access to the web, and among the largest are AID DOPHIA (dial-up and PPP connection), EIT and SOBIEX. At the bottom end are providers with a single computer.

2.b.3. Project telecentres / Télécentres des projets : According to Balancing Act, a government initiative will set up telecentres in Cotonou, Porto-Novo and Parakou, which will be "managed by youth associations and are intended to enable low-cost Internet access” (250-300 CFAs per hour).

A pilot project of the Beninese National Agricultural Research Institute and the German Information and Documentation Centre - RUNetwork (Rural Universal Network) - has set up access centres in two rural towns, Allada and Dassa. "It aims to improve access to ICT in rural areas, including publishing information on the internet." (Balancing Act)

2.c. Policy / Politique

2.d. ICT4D & ICT training / TIC pour le développement et formation en TIC

3. Localisation situation / Situation de localisation

4. References / Références

Balancing Act Africa. 2004. African Internet Country Profiles, Part 1, West Africa. London: Balancing Act.

1. Language information / Données sur les langues

1.a. Languages spoken / Langues parlées :

1.a.1. Official / Officielle(s) :

(Will draw information from survey publications like: Balancing Act. 2004. African Internet Country Market Profiles: Part 1 – West Africa.)

There are some individuals in and out of Benin interested in localisation.

d. Other comments / Autre commentaire :

d. Other comments / Autre commentaire : :

1. Language information / Données sur les langues

a. Languages spoken / Langues parlées :

i. Official / Officielle(s) :

ii. National (indigenous, often with legislated status other than official) / Nationale(s) (indigène ; souvent avec un statut légale autre qu' "officielle") :

iii. Other indigenous / Autres indigènes :

iv. Relevant pages in the Major Languages section of this report / Pages appropriées dans la section de ce rapport sur les Langues principales :

Gbe (Fon), Yoruba, Songhai/Zarma (Dendi), Fula

b. Policy / Politique :

i. Laws/legislation / Lois/législation :

ii. Agencies / Agences :

iii. Languages in education/literacy / Langues dans l'éducation/l'alphabétisation :

c. Writing in national/indigenous languages / Ecriture en langues nationales/indigènes :

i. Orthographies / Orthographes :

ii. Print publications / Editions imprimées :

d. Other comments / Autre commente : :

2. ICT situation / Situation des TIC

3. Localisation situation / Situation de localisation

4. References / Références

ii. National (indigenous, often with legislated status other than official):

Halaoui, Nazam. 2001. "Aménagement et politique linguistiques: La politique des langues au Bénin." Language Problems and Language Planning 25 (2): 145-166.

Leclerc, Jacques. L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde, "Bénin," http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/afrique/benin.htm

SIL International, Ethnologue: Languages of the World, "Languages of Benin," http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=BJ

National languages are written in the Latin alphabet with some additional modified letters (extended characters). A chart showing the extended Latin characters and diacritics used in some Beninese languages is available at: http://www.bisharat.net/A12N/BENIN-table.htm

iii. Languages in education/literacy:

c. Writing in national/indigenous languages:

i. Orthographies:

ii. Print publications:

d. Other comments:

4. References

ii. National (indigenous, usually with legislated status other than official):

1. Language information

iv. Relevant pages in the Major Languages section of this report:

c. Other comments:

iv. Relevant pages in the Major Languages section of this report:

iv. Of the above categories that are part of the language survey:

a. Languages spoken:

i. Official:

ii. National (indigenous with legislated status other than official):

The site L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde has a page on Benin including a summary of (2.2) "Les langues nationales" at http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/afrique/benin.htm

iii. Other indigenous:

iii. Of the above categories that are part of the language survey:

b. Policy:

i. Laws/legislation:

The site L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde has a page on Benin including a section on (4) "La politique linguistique" at http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/afrique/benin.htm

ii. Agencies:

Ethnologue has an extensive list at http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=BJ

The site L'aménagement linguistique dans le monde has a page on Benin with a summary of (2.2) "Les langues nationales" at http://www.tlfq.ulaval.ca/axl/afrique/benin.htm

Ethnologue has a list at http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=BJ

There are at least a couple of individuals interested in localising for Fon.

1. Language

Languages spoken:

Official:

French

National (indigenous with legislated status other than official):

Other indigenous:

Of the above categories that are part of the language survey:

Language policy:

Agencies:

2. ICT situation

3. Localisation situation

There is a project apparently in beginning stages for localisation of OpenOffice in Moore, Fulfulde, and Jula.

4. References:

Languages: !!!

Official: !!!!

Languages:!!!

Official:!!!!

National!!!! (indigenous with legislated status other than official):

Other indigenous:!!!!

Of the above categories that are part of the language survey:!!!!

Language policy:!!!

Languages:

Official:

National (indigenous with legislated status other than official):

Other indigenous:

Of the above categories that are part of the language survey:

Language policy:

Agencies:

References:

Halaoui, Nazam. 2001. "Aménagement et politique linguistiques: La politique des langues au Bénin." Language Problems and Language Planning 25 (2): 145-166.