Madagascar ARTEC calls for lower internet prices, set to boost online gambling
Telecom regulator urges operators to cut data tariffs, improving access to digital services including online betting.
Madagascar.- Madagascar’s telecom regulator, the Authority for the Regulation of Communication Technologies (ARTEC), has called on mobile operators to reduce internet prices, a move set to expand access to online gambling and other digital platforms amid complaints over high data costs.
ARTEC “formally urged mobile operators to consider reducing rates to make services more affordable for consumers”, emphasising that high internet costs continue to limit access to digital services across the country, according to a Ecofin Agency report.
Madagascar’s Minister of Digital Development, Posts and Telecommunications, Stéphanie Delmotte, highlighted the importance of affordability. “The time has come to align with international best practices. No matter what, we are committed to reducing internet costs so that the majority of the population can access these data services,” said Delmotte.
Lower data costs could expand access to online betting platforms, enabling more players to enjoy digital gambling services with reliable connectivity. While high internet costs have been a barrier, mobile data spending represented 6.28 per cent of gross national income per capita in 2023, over three times the 2 percent affordability benchmark recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Connectivity is improving, with internet penetration rising to 32.57 per cent in 2023, up from 20.4 per cent the previous year, creating promising opportunities for growth in Madagascar’s online gaming sector.
Lower data costs boost digital access
ARTEC clarified it does not have the authority to directly set operator prices but acts to “facilitate dialogue and promote fair, sustainable and inclusive solutions across the digital ecosystem”. The review began in late 2024 and has already led to “an initial adjustment of existing rates”.
Earlier in 2024, the government introduced a minimum price for 1 GB of mobile data to ensure fair competition, but the policy was later revoked in May. ARTEC’s current initiative builds on this background, aiming to make internet access more affordable and sustainable.
In other African markets, reduced mobile data tariffs have correlated with increased participation in digital gambling, suggesting Madagascar could see similar trends.
Gambling in Madagascar is legal and regulated, with land-based casinos, lotteries and sports betting operating under the Gambling Act of 1998 and related legislation. While online sports and horse‑race betting are legal for licensed operators under Decree No. 7974/2018.
ARTEC’s push for affordability reflects a broader commitment to digital inclusion, potentially reshaping the country’s online services landscape, from e-commerce and streaming to the emerging online gambling market.
