(Ecofin Agency) - 1,300 villages in Egypt will soon be connected to optical fiber. According to the ICT minister, Amr Talaat (pictured), the program is the first phase of the "Decent Life" project. This phase is valued at EGP 5.6 billion ($356.4 million).

The official says the government wants to connect a total of 4,584 villages via this project, representing 58% of the total population. The overall investment under the project is EGP515 billion.

The Decent Life project was initiated on January 2, 2019, by President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, as part of the ICT department’s efforts to improve people's access to the Internet. The project will help meet the demand for high-speed connectivity that has been growing across the country since last year, due to the covid-19 pandemic.

With access to quality Internet connectivity, Egypt's rural populations will also be able to take part in the digital transformation of the country in which the government is currently investing. The reduced digital divide and related inequalities will support the country's easier entry into the fourth industrial revolution.

Muriel Edjo