Algeria accelerates trans-Saharan fiber optic project to connect Africa

The meeting included representatives from partner countries and national organizations, focusing on strengthening coordination to ensure the project's successful completion. Discussions highlighted the technical challenges of deploying infrastructure across the Sahara, an environment hostile to civil engineering work, and the complexities of cable laying. Regulatory issues were also central, with participants emphasizing the importance of harmonizing legal frameworks among involved states to facilitate the backbone's passage.

Minister Zerrouki stated that the trans-Saharan fiber optic link is a strategic project for digital interconnection in Africa, aiming to improve telecommunications services, enhance data exchange, and support economic and social development, as well as digital transformation in the region. The project connects Algeria to Nigeria via a fiber optic backbone traversing the Sahara, with branches extending to several Sahelian countries, providing fast, stable, and affordable internet access to populations where connections are currently fragmented and costly. The backbone is expected to open up new digital services essential for education, health, and administration.

Zerrouki affirmed that the project reflects cooperation and solid