Ivorian government expands digital coverage to remote rural areas

This initiative is creating new opportunities for residents. For example, in Zandanakaha, a village in northern Côte d'Ivoire, the introduction of mobile money points has transformed daily life. Zié Coulibaly, a young farmer, now operates a mobile money service, which not only eases financial transfers for the community but also provides him with an additional income source.

Adjouman Coulibaly, the village chief's secretary, highlights the convenience, noting that residents no longer need to travel long distances for transactions, especially in emergencies. Beyond financial services, access to social networks and information flows has broadened their horizons. These changes were made possible by the installation of an antenna in February 2025.

Similarly, in Kotolo, the inauguration of a radio-electric internet connection site in January 2025 allowed residents to make and receive calls, including video calls, from their homes. This site was established under the National Rural Connectivity Program PNCR. On August 2, 2024, digital connectivity was officially launched in 175 rural localities in Djébékaha, marking the start of phase 2 of the project's expansion.

The first phase of the PNCR, costing approximately 10 billion FCFA, saw the construction of 160 radio-electric sites in 175 localities, bene