nication infrastructure has recently entered a new era in Togo as wireless internet landed in the country, with the introduction of USB modems, providing a faster internet connection.
Togo's main three mobile operators, who also dominate the telecommunication market in the country, are now providing USB modems, which have become popular with internet users.
Many internet users in the capital Lome now access the internet where and whenever they want without having to use an internet cafe.
"It has changed my life on a daily basis in that I can use the internet when I want, where I want, not only inside but also outside (the house). I'm here, I'm connected with my family and it is very convenient," said Christelle Atikpe, a Lome resident.
"This is handy because you can easily go on the internet," said student Regis Akpokli.
Internet users in the country regularly experience internet connection problems, as only three years ago the only internet connection available was through a dial up system.
Since last year, Togo Telecom - the country's public telecoms operator - has been working on a fast-track project to dramatically increase the country's internet capabilities. Today, Moov Togo is one of of mobile phone service providers who also provide wireless internet.
"What motivates us is first of all our commitment to revolutionise the mobile phone market in Togo, but also to make access easier for mobile services. Today, for us, a mobile phone is not a luxury, neither is the internet. People should be able to have easy access to the latest technology, and by launching Moov internet, we put forward the most aggressive tariffs," said Soumaila Coulibaly, technical director at Moov.
The cost of a USB modem varies depending on operators, ranging from from 23,000 (45 U.S. dollars) to 80,000 (157 U.S. dollars) monthly.
But in a country where a minimum monthly salary is 30,000 FCFA (58 US dollars), many people prefer using cheaper internet cafes.
Internet cafes, on the other hand, charge about 100 FCFA (20 U.S. cents) per hour, which is more affordable for many other internet users.
"It's a good thing that we can now use wireless internet but it cannot stop us from going to internet cafes, because it's still cheaper than using wireless internet," said computer technician Danny Etsem, as he surfed the web in an internet cafe.
Togo's government hopes to develop its infrastructure in the telecommunication sector and has set an aim of having 15 percent of the population able to access the internet while lowering the cost of communication by the year 2015.
Improving Internet access in Africa is a fight on several fronts -- building undersea cables, setting up regional exchanges and bridging the last mile to homes and businesses -- but the continent is making progress.
But millions of people in rural parts of Africa are not yet covered by any mobile phone network, let alone one that would support Internet access.
Many in the industry believe that wireless Internet access will be key. But for the substantial part of Africa's population that lives on less than $1 a day, owning even a low-cost phone, much less one capable of accessing the Web, is out of reach.
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