Born in 1965 in Kumasi, Ghana, Robert Aouad studied law in France and lived and worked in the United States for some years. A natural born entrepreneur, he moved to Benin in 1995 where he set up various distribution and retail goods companies. In 2000, he launched a company specializing in retailing GSM handsets and prepaid cards. It was his first step in the world of telecommunications. From that date, he wished to focus entirely on his new passion and as a self-learner, he took on training to improve his knowledge in new technologies.
He always had a vision of making access to information more universal, particularly for young people and low-income groups. He is the main promoter of the ISOCEL project, which after 4 months became the first private ISP in Benin after the incumbent. This project, which was launched in 2004, went through a particularly tough process and tells a unique story in the sub-region thanks to the innovative approach it brought to Benin’s electronic communications market. Rich from this experience, ISOCEL is currently in the process of deploying similar wireless networks in other West African countries.
