Niger Completes 1,000km Fibre Build Under AfDB Project

Niger has accepted the fibre-optic sections delivered under the Trans-Sahara Optical Fibre Backbone Project (TSB), financed by the African Development Bank Group, on a provisional basis. The milestone advances the country’s aim of extending broadband infrastructure and improving regional connectivity.

The project, estimated at €43 million (US$49.5 million), is funded by the African Development Fund, the Bank Group’s concessional financing window and a national counterpart contribution.

It consists of two main phases: the construction of 1,031 kilometres of national and cross-border fibre and the installation of a Tier III national data centre.

The TSB network spans five routes linking Niger to neighbouring countries. They are Arlit–Assamaka to the Algerian border; Diffa–N’Guigmi to the Chad border; Zinder–Magaria to the Nigerian border; Niamey–Dosso–Gaya to the Benin border; and Niamey–Makalondi to the Burkina Faso border.

In parallel, an 88-kilometre urban local loop will connect administrative sites to the forthcoming data centre in Niamey.

Minister of Communication and New Information Technologies Adji Ali Salatou Adji stated: “With the forthcoming commissioning of these various links, the vision and desire of His Excellency General Abdourahamane Tiani, President of the Republic and Head of State, is becoming a reality.

"His Programme for the Refoundation of the Republic provides for a national network of very high-speed telecommunications infrastructure open to the sub-region, and the opening up of Niger to the information and knowledge age.”

The Minister’s remarks echoed the government’s broader policy to expand digital infrastructure and open up cross-border markets. Mamadou Tangara added: “We would like to salute an important milestone in the construction of a connected, inclusive and technologically sovereign Africa.”

The Trans-Saharan network connects six countries

Mamadou Tangara, the TSB Project Coordinator, noted that the Trans-Sahara backbone serves as “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, administrations and businesses.”

The Bank’s portfolio in Niger stood at more than US$1.16 billion as of 31 October 2025, covering energy, transport, water, sanitation, agriculture, governance, social affairs and digital technology. The TSB programme aligns with the portfolio’s goal of supporting infrastructure that sustains social and economic progress.

Abdoulkarim Soumailathe, the Managing Director of Niger Telecoms, highlighted how local impact remains an operational focus. “The project has made a major contribution to local employment in the areas concerned,” he said. Soumaila also outlined the potential for expanding digital services, including e-commerce, mobile financial services, and e-government. According to him, the fibre backbone will reduce connectivity costs and support the development of emerging digital markets.

Niger Telecoms and national stakeholders are involved

Niger Telecoms Managing Director Idrissa Djibo Maïga confirmed the operator’s participation in coordinating service readiness for the network segments, working alongside the Ministry and technical partners. The infrastructure is expected to integrate into the national broadband system once testing is finalised.

Mamadou said, “This network is not an end in itself, but the beginning of a new chapter for digital technology in Niger,” urging efficient and sustainable management of the infrastructure. His comments underscored the Bank’s plans to ensure that national operators and public bodies manage the new facilities to maximise long-term value.

The African Development Bank Group, through its Country Office in Niger, continues to oversee infrastructure investments aimed at strengthening digital resilience. Its involvement in the TSB initiative supports broader objectives of affordable access and cross-border data interconnection in West and Central Africa.