Multinational telecoms firm Globacom has remained tight-lipped over its instruction to leave Benin issued by the country's industry regulator.

The Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts (ARCEP) said its decision was based on the operator's refusal to agree to pay the new licensing fee.

The regulator said it had informed the operator and directed it to stop the sale of new SIM cards and recharge cards.

Globacom is required to notify its subscribers of the impending cessation of its activities and invite them to consume definitively the telephone credits available on their accounts within thirty days of the notification sent to them, according to the regulator

"Glo Mobile will also have to maintain its passive colocation infrastructure with other operators for a period of three months," ARCEP stated.

In September 2017, negotiations between the operator and the new administration failed.

Since it first started operating in the country in August 2007, the operator grew its market share to about 12%.

With Bell Benin Communications SA and Glo Mobile exiting the country, telecoms subscribers will be served by Libercom, Spacetel MTN and Moov.