The Telecommunications/ICT Regulatory Authority of Côte d'Ivoire (ARTCI) announced, in a press release published on March 19, 2026 in Abidjan, a strengthening of the fight against the so-called "spider internet" phenomenon , which is clearly on the rise in the economic capital and several cities in the interior of the country.

This practice involves reselling or redistributing a private internet connection , initially subscribed to for personal use or for an internet café, through publicly accessible Wi-Fi networks. This activity is considered illegal by the authorities because it falls outside the scope of current regulations.

ARTCI reminds the public that all provision of internet access services is subject to prior authorization or a license , in accordance with electronic communications legislation. Violators are therefore subject to administrative and criminal penalties , as well as the seizure of their equipment .

The regulator also warns against the use of equipment installed outside the legal framework, stressing that these devices may be subject to legal action .

In its press release, ARTCI invites people and businesses to deal exclusively with duly authorized operators , including Orange Côte d'Ivoire, MTN Côte d'Ivoire, Moov Africa Côte d'Ivoire or other approved providers.

Finally, the institution assures that it will intensify monitoring and awareness operations in order to preserve a fair competitive environment and protect consumer interests.

Faced with the rapid growth of digital usage, this statement from ARTCI marks a clear intention: to put an end to informal practices in the Internet sector and to better structure the Ivorian telecommunications market .