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Office des Postes et Telecommunications

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Office des Postes et Telecommunications (OPT) was the manager of Benin's ccTLD, .bj, before being restructured in 2004.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

The history of OPT dates back to the colonial era in 1890, when the French established the first post office in Porto-Novo, Dahomey (now Benin), to facilitate communication and trade between France and its colonies. Over time, the postal, telegraphic, and telephonic services expanded along the coast and into the interior of Dahomey, with infrastructure supporting communication for both the colonizers and their maritime operations.

After Benin gained independence, the newly formed government recognized the importance of these services and maintained the PTT system. In 1959, the Office des Postes et Télécommunications (OPT) was officially created by law to manage the postal and telecommunications services in the country.

In the 1980s and 1990s, OPT faced significant financial difficulties, reflecting broader challenges faced by state-owned companies in Benin. These challenges led to reforms and restructuring efforts. As part of the government's plan to privatize certain state sectors, OPT was split in 2004 into two distinct entities: La Poste du Bénin S.A. and Bénin Télécoms S.A., with the official split occurring in March 2005.[2]

References[edit | edit source]