(Ecofin Agency) - The steering committee of the Congolese component of Central Africa Backbone (CAB), set its 2022 budget to XAF12.3 billion (US$20.7 million). The budget approved last March 31, in Brazzaville, will allow the sterling commission to pursue the implementation of several key subprojects. The subprojects include the finalization of the fiber optic interconnection between Congo and the Central African Republic, and the technical and environmental audit of the interconnected Cameroon-Congo and CAR-Congo fiber-optic networks. Two national data centers will also be built and launched. 

"The subprojects faced several challenges that were all caused by the coronavirus health crisis. Those challenges delayed the delivery of some equipment and the organization of some meetings… Currently, our disbursement rate is lower than expected but we hope things will improve in 2022 and no delays will be encountered in the implementation of our plans. We are pretty sure that we will finalize the subprojects we launched,” said Michel Ngakala, national coordinator of CAB-Congo.

The approved budget, and the working plan created, build upon the subprojects initiated in the previous years. For 2021, the committee approved a XAF13 billion budget, which was notably used to complete the fiber optic interconnection between Congo and Cameroon. It also served for the launch of works for the fiber optic interconnection between Congo and the Central African Republic and the construction of a national data center. 

Once completed, the various subprojects will consolidate Congo’s national broadband network. Overall, the Central Africa Backbone project will allow Congo and its Central African neighbors to facilitate access to affordable and quality digital services for their population. 

Isaac K. Kassouwi