Chad - Trans-Saharan fiber optic backbone project (DTS) Chad component

The proposed project involves the installation and commissioning of 1 510 kilometres of optical fibre cables in Niger, and Chad, also comprising active equipment as well as power and cooling systems. This concerns five sections in Niger two of which will be upgraded, and one section in Chad. The project is characterized by its geographical coverage inasmuch as it aims to interconnect three of the continent’s regions (West, Central and North) by optical fibre. It concerns the development of international communication systems for Niger, Algeria, Nigeria and Chad through the laying of long distance underwater cables, thus providing the countries with an alternative access to international traffic through the Algerian and Nigerian coasts, under optimum conditions of capacity, speed and cost. From an operational standpoint, the Trans-Sahara Optical Fibre Backbone (TSB) Project is a follow-up to the Trans-Sahara Highway (TSH) Project and the Cameroon and Congo components of the Central Africa Backbone (CAB) Project whose financing by the Bank was approved in July 2015 and May 2016 respectively. The sections to be developed are the missing links of the national optical fibre backbone (with outlets to neighbouring countries) in both countries. The Bank’s intervention will enable Niger and Chad to increase the capacity and speed of their inter-regional communication networks in the safest and most cost-effective manner, in strict compliance with the relevant international norms and standards. It will also help to support the reform of the ICT sector by establishing a legal, regulatory and fiscal framework that is conducive to the emergence of a digital economy in both countries. The project will help to reduce fragility by strengthening administration and social cohesion through technological update by facilitating the connection of the administration to new integrated services. It will be implemented over a four-year period from 2017 to 2020 for a total cost estimated at UA 62.262 million.