Cotonou eSIM
In Cotonou you connect to MTN Benin, Moov Africa Benin or Celtiis, whichever is performing better where you are standing. Your data starts working the moment you land, before you reach the immigration hall.
- Networks
- MTN Benin, Moov Africa Benin and Celtiis
- 5G
- yes, non standalone
- Throttle
- None on metered plans
- Tethering
- Allowed on every plan
Plans that cover Cotonou
| Data | Validity | Price per GB | Price | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 GB | Never expires | $15.89 | $15.89 | |
| 3 GB | Never expires | $11.63 | $34.89 | |
| 5 GBMost travellers | Never expires | $10.78 | $53.89 | |
| 10 GB | Never expires | $9.89 | $98.89 |
How Benin compares across Africa
- Regional median
- 29.5 Mbps
- Upstream networks
- 3, MTN Benin, Moov Africa Benin, Celtiis
- 5G
- Yes, non standalone in Cotonou and Abomey Calavi, on MTN only
- Cities with their own page
- 3: Cotonou, Pobé, Lokossa
Landing at Cardinal Bernardin Gantin International Airport (COO)
- Airport
- COO / DBBB
Worth knowing about Cotonou
- The airport was renamed after Cardinal Bernardin Gantin in 2021. It is still widely listed under its older name, Cotonou Cadjehoun Airport, so a booking may show either.
- It stands in the Cadjehoun neighbourhood of Cotonou itself rather than out of town, working off a single 2,400 m runway, and it is the primary way into Benin by air.
- Most visitors need a Benin e-Visa granted before arrival. Citizens of African Union member states get 90 days without one. Processing can take up to 96 hours, so the official advice is to apply about a week ahead.
- A replacement airport at Glo-Djigbé has been on the books since 1974 and was ceremonially launched in 2011, but the project stalled and Cotonou still takes the traffic.