- The AfDB-backed fiber optic cable project, estimated at US$50 million (€43 million), covers five major routes in the country: Arlit-Assamaka to the Algerian border; Diffa to N’Guigmi and the border with Chad; Zinder to Magaria and the Nigerian border; Niamey to Dosso, Gaya and the border with Benin; and Niamey to Makalondi and the border with Burkina Faso.
- In addition to these five sections, an 88 km urban loop will connect the main administrative locations to the future national data center.
Niger has taken a major step forward in improving the country’s broadband connectivity and regional digital integration by completing the preliminary acceptance of the fiber optic sections built under the Trans-Saharan Optical Fiber Backbone Project (TSB) – a project funded by the African Development Bank Group.
The cost of the project is estimated at €43 million, with financing from the African Development Fund, the Bank Group concessional window and a national counterpart.
The project consists of two main components: first, the construction of a national and cross-border fiber optic network of 1,031 km in length; and second, the installation of a national Tier III data center.
The fiber optic routes cover five major routes in the country: Arlit-Assamaka to the Algerian border; Diffa to N’Guigmi and the border with Chad; Zinder to Magaria and the Nigerian border; Niamey to Dosso, Gaya and the border with Benin; and Niamey to Makalondi and the border with Burkina Faso.
In addition to these five sections, an 88 km urban loop will connect the main administrative locations to the future national data center.
Niger’s decisive step towards a better connected Africa
On November 14, an official ceremony took place in Niamey in the presence of the Minister of Communications and New Information Technologies, Adji Ali Salatou; the head of the African Development Bank Group’s country office in Niger, Mamadou Tangara; the TSB project coordinator, Abdoulkarim Soumaila; the General Manager of Niger Telecoms, Idrissa Djibo Maïga, and the companies and all players involved in the implementation of the work.
The Minister of Communications and New Information Technologies, Adji Ali Salatou, recalled the government’s vision in this regard: “With the imminent commissioning of these various connections, the vision and wish of His Excellency General Abdourahamane Tiani, President of the Republic and Head of State, are becoming reality. His Program for the Reestablishment of the Republic envisages a national network of high-speed telecommunications infrastructure open to the sub-region, and the opening of Niger to the information and knowledge age.”
In his speech, Tangara added: “We would like to celebrate an important milestone in building a connected, inclusive and technologically sovereign Africa.”
The Bank Group’s Country Representative in Niger pointed out that the Trans-Saharan backbone represents a strategic lever for strengthening interconnections between several countries in the sub-region (Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Mali and Mauritania) and reducing connectivity costs for people, governments and businesses.
Fiber optic cable project offers economic opportunities for young people
In particular, the project will improve Niger’s digital resilience, accelerate the digitalization of public services and create new economic opportunities for young people, through high-quality broadband connectivity.
The TSB project coordinator, Abdoulkarim Soumaila, underlined the concrete impact of the project in addressing the digital divide, reducing connectivity costs and promoting new digital services, namely e-commerce, mobile financial services and e-government. He also pointed out that the project has made a major contribution to local employment in the areas concerned.
“This network is not an end in itself, but the beginning of a new chapter for digital technology in Niger,” Mr Tangara argued, calling for efficient and sustainable use of infrastructure for the benefit of citizens.
As of October 31, 2025, the African Development Bank’s active portfolio in Niger amounted to over FCFA 663 billion, covering energy, transport, water and sanitation, agriculture, governance, social affairs and digital technology. The TSB project is fully in line with this strategic commitment to promote inclusive, sustainable and innovation-led growth.
Also read: EU: Global gateway for clean energy transition in Tanzania
#fiber #optic #cable #heralds #era #Nigers #youth