On February 20, 2019, Mauritania’s president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz launched the construction of four portions of optical fibre that will enhance the national backbone. These portions are namely the 431 km “Nouakchott-Atar-Choum”,  the 723 km “Rosso-Boghé-Kaédi-Kaédi-Selibabi-Kiffa”, the 280 km “Aioun-Néma” and the Nouakchott local loop.

The works that fall within the framework of the West African Regional Communications Infrastructure Program (WARCIP), for which World Bank invested $12 million, will add about 1,600 kilometres of optical fibre to the national backbone. ZTE is commissioned to realize the works, under the supervision of Mauritania’s ministry of IT and scientific research. 

According to Sidi Ould Salem, the IT minister, once reinforced, the national backbone will allow high broadband access (crucial for development) by a larger portion of the population.