Digital Transformation: Expanding the National Fiber Optic Backbone

Bangui, October 31, 2025 – The Central African Republic is accelerating its digital transformation with the launch of Phase II of the National Fiber Optic Backbone Project – one of the country’s most ambitious infrastructure initiatives to date. Designed to extend broadband connectivity beyond the capital Bangui, the project will make high-speed internet more affordable and accessible, unlocking the potential of a modern information economy.

Anchored in Strategic Area 3 of the National Development Plan, this project aims to consolidate the country’s integration into the Central African regional network and lay the foundation for a dynamic digital ecosystem that empowers citizens, entrepreneurs, and institutions alike.

Project Overview

With a total investment of USD 87 million, the Central African Fiber Optic Backbone Project (Phase II) is a public initiative financed through grants, public funds, and concessional loans. Building on the first phase – which connected the country via Cameroon through Garoua Boulaï and Baoro–Beloko – the new expansion will further stabilize and extend the national network.

Over a five-year implementation period (2027–2032), the project will include the creation of a network operations center, ensuring the resilience and reliability of the entire digital infrastructure.

Objectives

The project’s primary objective is to accelerate the implementation of the Central African Backbone (CAB), a regional initiative aimed at integrating Central Africa into a shared high-speed digital network.

It seeks to increase regional connectivity by expanding broadband services and reducing the cost of telecommunications and ICT across the subregion. At the same time, it is designed to strengthen economic diversification by promoting the growth of a competitive digital economy that creates jobs and enhances the business environment.

Beyond connectivity, the project also aims to foster innovation and inclusion by ensuring that digital infrastructure becomes a powerful driver of education, governance, and entrepreneurship throughout the Central African Republic.

Expected Results

Once completed, Phase II will deliver tangible progress in affordability, connectivity, and innovation:

• Internet costs will fall dramatically, with the average price of mobile data dropping from 2.5 FCFA/Mo (2020) to 0.8 FCFA/Mo.

• The mobile internet market is expected to grow fivefold, from 10 billion FCFA in 2020 to more than 50 billion FCFA within five years.

• Internet penetration will rise from 50% to 66%, enabling the expansion of digital services, online education, and audiovisual content creation.

• A redundant operations center will secure network stability and ensure continuity in case of regional disruptions

Major Benefits

The project promises significant economic and social gains across the entire country. It will expand digital access to meet the rapidly growing demand for internet services and online content, while reducing the digital divide. At the same time, it will help lower structural costs by reducing dependence on neighboring countries for international bandwidth.

The initiative is also expected to generate employment and contribute to poverty reduction, as digital industries expand and local businesses gain competitiveness. Beyond its economic dimension, the project will deepen regional integration within the African digital economy, fostering innovation, inclusion, and long-term development across multiple sectors.

Strategic Outlook

By embracing digital infrastructure as a pillar of growth, the Central African Republic is redefining its future. The National Fiber Optic Backbone Project is more than an engineering feat – it is a national commitment to connectivity, inclusion, and innovation.

Through this initiative, the government seeks not only to bridge the digital divide but also to spark a new era of opportunity – one where technology drives progress, competitiveness, and shared prosperity across the nation.