Telecom

Liquid Technologies partners with Facebook to build optical fiber network in DR Congo

Liquid Technologies partners with Facebook to build optical fiber network in DR Congo
Tuesday, 06 July 2021 05:34

Zimbabwean company Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Facebook announced today they are partnering to build an optical fiber network in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Through this network, the two partners initiate the realization of a digital corridor that will start from the center of the DRC, cross the rainforest to connect East Africa to the submarine cable 2Africa in the Atlantic Ocean.

“This is one of the most difficult fiber builds ever undertaken, crossing more than 2,000 kilometers of some of the most challenging terrain in the world. Liquid Technologies and Facebook have a common mission to provide affordable infrastructure to bridge connectivity gaps, and we believe our work together will have a tremendous impact on internet accessibility across the region,” said Nic Rudnick, Group CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies.

For Ibrahima Ba, Director of Network Investments, Emerging Markets at Facebook, "this fiber build with Liquid Technologies is one of the most exciting projects we have worked on. We know that deploying fibre in this region is not easy, but it is a crucial part of extending broadband access to under-connected areas.”

In its August 2020 report titled "What is the impact of fiber connectivity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo?" CDC Group estimated that Internet penetration in the DRC is less than 15% and access costs are still high at $12.57 per gigabit per second. Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Facebook are looking to change that as demand for connectivity grows in the country. More than 5,000 people from local communities will take part in this large-scale project.

Through their collaboration, the two companies aim to make Internet access more affordable for over 30 million people. This high-speed connectivity should lead to socio-economic investments that will revolutionize the living conditions of the Congolese.

Muriel Edjo

On the same topic
Ethio Telecomis exploring financing support from Italy’s development bank Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP) for digital infrastructure projects. The...
Zambia aims to strengthen its digital policies by studying Kenya’s regulatory and technological frameworks. Officials discussed cybersecurity...
Niger is validating a national digital development strategy covering 2026–2035. The plan focuses on expanding fiber infrastructure, digital governance,...
Djezzy partners with 15 companies to develop digital services for students Initiative aims to increase demand for data and connected services Djezzy...
Most Read
01

MTN Zambia tests Starlink satellite service connecting phones directly from space Direct-to...

Satellite direct-to-device telecoms: promise, momentum and hard limits
02

Since its 2019 IPO, Airtel Africa paid Deloitte over $37 million in audit and non-audit fees,...

Airtel Africa and Deloitte: A Seven-Year Relationship, $37 Million in Fees and a Planned Handover
03

Togo parliament adopts WAEMU law against currency counterfeiting Bill defines offences including ...

Togo Passes Law to Criminalize Counterfeiting of West African CFA Franc
04

EIB commits over €1 billion for renewable energy in sub-Saharan Africa Funding supports Miss...

EIB Commits €1 Billion to Renewable Energy Under Africa’s “Mission 300” Initiative
05

Tilenga oil project required land from 4,954 households in Uganda Over 99% of affected households...

Report details land compensation for nearly 5,000 households in Uganda’s Tilenga oil project
Enter your email to receive our newsletter

Ecofin Agency provides daily coverage of nine key African economic sectors: public management, finance, telecoms, agribusiness, mining, energy, transport, communication, and education.
It also designs and manages specialized media, both online and print, for African institutions and publishers.

SALES & ADVERTISING

regie@agenceecofin.com 
Tél: +41 22 301 96 11 
Mob: +41 78 699 13 72


EDITORIAL
redaction@agenceecofin.com

More information
Team
Publisher

ECOFIN AGENCY

Mediamania Sarl
Rue du Léman, 6
1201 Geneva
Switzerland

 

Ecofin Agency is a sector-focused economic news agency, founded in December 2010. Its web platform was launched in June 2011. ©Mediamania.

 
 

Please publish modules in offcanvas position.