By linking ECOWAS countries, the project enhances regional digital infrastructure, which is crucial for facilitating cross-border trade, financial integration, and coordinated development efforts.

The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the Republic of Liberia has announced a collaborative initiative with the ECOWAS Commission for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalization, through its Project Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU), and the World Bank, to advance the deployment of a Second Submarine Cable. This transformative regional project, announced July 14, is aimed at strengthening internet connectivity and digital infrastructure across Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and The Gambia.

To support this effort, ECOWAS contracted TACTIS, a leading consulting firm specializing in telecommunications management and fiber optic infrastructure, to carry out a comprehensive feasibility study for the cable project from July 14 to 18. In Liberia, the cable is expected to land in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.

Throughout the week, the TACTIS team should meet with key players in Liberia’s ICT ecosystem, including government agencies, telecom operators, and digital economy stakeholders. These consultations will inform the cable’s technical design, financing, and implementation roadmap.

The Second Submarine Cable is intended to provide critical redundancy to the existing Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) system, on which the region currently relies. The project aims to ensure uninterrupted connectivity, expand access, and safeguard against future disruptions, like the March 2024 ACE cable outage that affected internet services across 17 countries in the region.

With internet penetration in Liberia at just 23.5% as of 2023 — according to data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) — the deployment of a Second Submarine Cable is a critical step toward closing the country’s digital divide. Strengthening connectivity infrastructure will not only improve internet reliability and speed but also lay the foundation for inclusive digital transformation and long-term socio-economic development.

The findings from the feasibility study will guide the next phase of the project, including technical design, funding mechanisms, and construction timelines. If approved, the Second Submarine Cable could become one of the most significant upgrades to the region’s digital infrastructure in the last decade.

Hikmatu Bilali