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ARCEP Togo forfaits non consommés marks a significant step forward in consumer protection within the telecommunications sector. Following an extensive and inclusive consultation process with mobile operators YAS Togo and Moov Africa Togo, as well as three consumer associations including LCT, ATC, and MMLK, the Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes (ARCEP) has implemented a series of regulatory reforms. These measures focus on addressing longstanding consumer complaints related to the loss of unused voice and data volumes, inaccuracies in mobile internet billing, and limited flexibility with SIM card validity periods.
One of the most impactful changes under the new rules allows subscribers to recover unused voice and internet bundle volumes after their expiration. This recovery is possible by re-subscribing to the same offer within a specific retention period. For bundles with a validity of 10 days or less, the retention window is 10 days, while bundles exceeding 10 days in validity offer a 30-day window. Through this policy on ARCEP Togo forfaits non consommés, Togo aligns with regional leaders such as Côte d’Ivoire and Burkina Faso, becoming one of the few countries in West Africa to introduce such consumer-friendly carryover mechanisms.
ARCEP has also updated the rules for deducting consumption when customers hold multiple active bundles simultaneously. Under the revised framework, usage is prioritized from the bundle closest to its validity or retention expiry date. This approach promotes more efficient utilization of purchased services and minimizes unintended losses for subscribers, further enhancing fairness in mobile service management.
To ensure greater transparency and accuracy in mobile data billing, the regulator now mandates that all internet consumption be measured and charged exclusively in bytes, the smallest standard unit of data. This precise method guarantees that consumers are billed exactly for the data they use, eliminating discrepancies that previously arose from larger measurement units. ARCEP highlighted that Togo stands alone in the sub-region for enforcing this byte-level billing precision, setting a benchmark for fairness.
In addition to these billing and usage reforms, ARCEP has extended the inactivity period before an unused SIM card is deactivated from three months to six months. This extension provides users with more time to retain their phone numbers and any remaining main account credit during periods of non-use, as long as the SIM remains active. The change reduces the risk of losing valuable lines and balances due to temporary inactivity.
These combined reforms under ARCEP Togo forfaits non consommés are designed to alleviate common consumer frustrations, such as rapid or abnormal bundle depletion and rigid SIM management rules. ARCEP has already deployed monitoring tools to enforce compliance effectively and ensure operators adhere to the new standards.
The measures also strengthen requirements for transparency in promotional offers, making them more readable and understandable for users, while reaffirming operators’ obligations to maintain quality of service. Throughout the consultation, ARCEP commended the constructive participation of YAS Togo and Moov Africa Togo, whose cooperation facilitated these meaningful advancements in the mobile services landscape for Togolese consumers.
For more details on similar regulatory practices, refer to external resources such as the official ARCEP Togo website announcements or reports from regional bodies like those in Côte d’Ivoire’s telecom sector.
