• Liberia’s telecom regulator and Huawei discuss deploying the “Digital Village” model, including smart classrooms, solar power and an Internet tower.

• The government completed its first digital village in Foya, expected to serve over 50 households and key institutions within a 2.5-km radius.

• Despite digital ambitions, Liberia ranks 47th of 54 African states in the UN’s 2024 e-government index and 36th of 47 in the ITU ICT development index.

Liberia seeks to strengthen its socio-economic development through digital technology, although limited access to online services still represents a major national challenge.

The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) explores new cooperation avenues with Huawei to accelerate national digital transformation. During a meeting last week, the Chinese technology company presented its “Digital Village” model, which it claims can support education, stimulate economic activity and expand access to essential digital services.

According to an LTA statement published on Saturday, 6 December, Huawei explained the model’s components, which include improved connectivity through a dedicated Internet tower, a connected high school and a smart classroom equipped with a touch board, Internet access and a full online-learning system. The concept also integrates solar-powered electricity for households.

Liberia has already reached a milestone. The government announced in August that it had completed the first digital village in Foya District, Lofa County. The site will provide green-energy Internet coverage to more than 50 households and essential facilities such as schools, hospitals, clinics, churches and mosques within a 2.5-kilometre radius.

The digital village will also host smart classrooms to improve the learning experience and help students build the digital skills needed in the modern economy. Additionally, around 100 households will receive free electricity. However, authorities have not yet commissioned the facility.

This initiative comes as Liberian authorities signal a clear ambition to use digitalisation as a lever for socio-economic development. Despite this ambition, the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) ranked Liberia 47th of 54 African countries in the 2024 e-government index, with an EGDI score of 0.2513 out of 1. The report describes the score as “reflecting steady digital integration despite various challenges.”

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) also ranked Liberia 36th of 47 African states in ICT development, with a score of 37.1 out of 100. Meanwhile, ITU DataHub figures show that 2G, 3G and 4G networks covered 85.4%, 85.4% and 80% of the population in 2023.

In terms of usage, Liberia recorded an Internet penetration rate of 23.5%, while 59% of the population owned a mobile phone, underscoring the gap between coverage and effective adoption.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum