Reliable, high-capacity international connectivity is crucial for driving economic growth, enabling digital services, and promoting regional competitiveness. A second submarine cable would not only enhance service quality and reliability but also reinforce Sierra Leone’s ambition to become a key player in regional digital transformation.

Sierra Leone has taken a strategic step toward enhancing its international connectivity and digital resilience. To this end, a high-level delegation is visiting Guinea to explore the viability of a second submarine cable landing, the Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation announced on July 10.

“Our goal is to gather the technical and market insights needed to guide national decisions on securing a resilient, high-capacity, and future-ready international connection,” the ministry stated.

The mission aims to boost Sierra Leone’s internet capacity, ensure network redundancy, and support the country’s long-term economic competitiveness in an increasingly digital global economy.

During the visit, the delegation will study strategic partnerships for a second cable landing, evaluate the technical, financial, and regulatory requirements for a new subsea system, and identify potential providers and optimal routes that align with Sierra Leone’s digital development agenda.

The team will also assess landing site logistics and environmental considerations, learn from successful public-private partnership (PPP) models to ensure the project’s long-term sustainability, and strengthen regional cooperation to position Sierra Leone as a future digital gateway for West Africa.

The initiative comes at a crucial time as the country works to future-proof its connectivity infrastructure, support growing digital services, and expand economic opportunities. Sierra Leone relies significantly on the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable, which landed in Freetown in 2013. In March 2024, a major cut in the ACE cable disrupted internet across 17 African countries, including Sierra Leone. This incident highlighted the country’s vulnerability and the urgent need for diversified, redundant international connections to ensure continuous and reliable digital services, thereby protecting economic activities from similar future shocks.

Hikmatu Bilali