• Côte d'Ivoire aims to connect 30 new localities to high-speed internet by September 25, as part of the second phase of its National Rural Connectivity Program (PNCR).
• The broader national plan targets connecting 575 rural localities to high-speed internet by the end of 2025.
• The initiative seeks to reduce the digital divide, foster social and financial inclusion, and position Côte d'Ivoire as a regional digital hub.

Ivorian authorities plan to connect 575 rural localities to high-speed internet before the end of 2025. A first phase of their plan to achieve this objective launched in July.

The Ivorian Ministry of Digital Transition and Digitalization, with support from the Telecommunications/ICT Regulatory Authority of Côte d'Ivoire (ARTCI), is overseeing the second phase of the National Rural Connectivity Program (PNCR) until September 25. This stage aims to connect 30 new localities to high-speed internet. It commenced in the Worodougou region, where the villages of Yanfissa, Kangana, Kognimansso, and Dougbe already have access.

The regions of Kabadougou, Grands-Ponts, Nawa, Sud-Comoé, Nzi, Guémon, Cavally, Poro, and Tchologo are the next targets. The objective is to reduce the digital divide between urban and rural areas. It also aims to facilitate access to education, health, commerce, as well as social and financial inclusion in these areas.

Minister Kalil Konaté stated, "Rural connectivity is fundamental in President Alassane Ouattara's vision for the social and digital transformation of Côte d'Ivoire: He sees technologies and innovation as the ultimate tool to accelerate economic and social development. Bearing this government social project, the ministry is implementing this national program to ensure that every citizen, regardless of their living area, has easy access to high-speed internet and digital services."

The PNCR also aligns with a broader plan by Ivorian authorities to establish the country as a regional digital hub. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) DataHub platform, the internet penetration rate stands at 52.7% in urban areas, compared to just 24.6% in rural zones. This disparity also reflects in household internet access at home, with 85.7% for urban households versus 57.7% in the countryside.

Ultimately, the program should reduce the connectivity gap between rural and urban environments, strengthen digital inclusion, and foster local economic development in previously digitally isolated areas. It could also stimulate entrepreneurship, improve access to online public services, and prepare rural populations for better integration into the national digital economy.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum