More Like Awesome-Fi

New rumors about a national Wifi service have actually turned out to be true! The Chinese government (supposedly) bought the Beninese government’s telecommunications company a while ago and has been busily putting up towers. They just started selling desk phone units that can act as a telephone, or when plugged into a computer, a Wifi modem. It’s expensive as all get out, but it can achieve reasonably high speeds.

Cyber cafes are much cheaper as it currently stands, but it’s one of the only ways for people to get access to the Internet in their own homes. There’s a tower in Natitingou which hasn’t been turned on yet (only Cotonou has access at the moment), but if it gets activated while I’m here, Peace Corps will almost definitely get an account for the Workstation. Sweet.