(Ecofin Agency) - This intervention demonstrates regulatory foresight by the LTA and highlights the broader push for digital resilience in West Africa. It also reinforces the importance of regional cooperation in internet infrastructure to withstand shocks like cable cuts, which have disrupted entire countries in the past.

The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) announced on Tuesday, April 22, scheduled technical repairs on the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable from April 23 to 30, which may cause internet disruptions across the country.

To minimize service interruptions, the LTA has authorized Orange Liberia and Csquared to establish cross-border fiber-optic connections with operators in Côte d'Ivoire, ensuring continued access to international internet services during the maintenance period.

Recognizing the essential role of the internet in national development and communication, the LTA has officially designated these cross-border links as critical infrastructure. Under this declaration, Orange Liberia and Csquared must provide other service providers access on fair and reasonable terms to maintain internet stability.

The LTA  urges all licensed internet service providers to make use of these temporary connections to sustain uninterrupted service for end-users. This proactive measure is expected to help maintain internet continuity nationwide during the ACE cable downtime.

Liberia joined the ACE submarine cable network in 2012, linking the country to a high-speed international internet backbone for the first time. The ACE cable stretches over 17,000 kilometers and connects 24 countries from France to South Africa. Before this, the country relied mainly on expensive satellite connections.

According to the latest Digital 2024 report by DataReportal, Liberia had 1.65 million internet users at the start of 2024, with an internet penetration rate of 30.1%, highlighting ongoing challenges in expanding affordable and reliable access. A disruption to the ACE cable can significantly affect both urban and rural users, businesses, and government operations.

Hikmatu Bilali