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The United States is stepping up efforts to expand trusted wireless infrastructure across West Africa, backing a major initiative aimed at improving connectivity in underserved communities while offering an alternative to the region’s heavy reliance on Chinese-built telecom systems.
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has announced funding for a feasibility study to support the deployment of approximately 1,500 turnkey mobile communication base stations across Nigeria, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, and Ghana.
The project will be led by Massachusetts-based telecommunications company Vanu Inc., with the goal of extending broadband and mobile connectivity to off-grid and underserved areas across the region.
USTDA, the U.S. government agency responsible for advancing strategic infrastructure development in emerging markets, said the initiative aligns with broader efforts to promote secure digital infrastructure while expanding opportunities for American technology providers in overseas markets.
According to the agency, the funding will support early-stage technical assessments required to accelerate infrastructure development and attract financing for large-scale implementation.
USTDA Deputy Director, Thomas R. Hardy, said the project is designed to unlock affordable and trusted internet access for communities that remain digitally underserved.
“USTDA is bringing private sector solutions to unlock widespread, affordable, trusted internet access in off-grid communities across West Africa,” Hardy said.
“By helping American companies compete in these critical markets, we are offering an alternative to insecure infrastructure while creating export opportunities that make America more prosperous,” he added.
As part of the initiative, USTDA will fund a feasibility study for Vanu Côte d’Ivoire, which has appointed Georgia-based Vernonburg Group LLC to provide technical expertise and assess the commercial viability of large-scale deployment.
The study will evaluate existing telecom infrastructure, examine market conditions across the four countries, review legal and regulatory frameworks, and develop financing strategies to support implementation.
Industry observers say the initiative could create significant opportunities for the deployment of U.S.-made wireless systems, network management technologies, and broader digital infrastructure solutions across the region.
The planned rollout is expected to help narrow West Africa’s urban-rural connectivity gap, improve broadband penetration, and expand access to faster, more reliable mobile services in communities that have historically relied on limited or outdated 2G and 3G networks.
Chief Executive Officer of Vanu Inc., Andrew Beard, described the partnership as an opportunity to demonstrate the viability of broadband expansion in some of the region’s most challenging operating environments.
“Vanu is proud to partner with USTDA to demonstrate how our systems enable mobile network operators in West Africa to deliver broadband internet and voice services in some of the most economically and operationally challenging markets,” Beard said.
He noted that the company’s technology is designed to make connectivity commercially viable even in remote and underserved areas.
“Vanu has developed an ecosystem of American companies to deliver cost-effective systems based on open interfaces and architectures,” he said, adding that the USTDA-backed study could help catalyse new investment, expand U.S. exports, and accelerate the deployment of secure digital infrastructure globally.
The initiative comes as governments across Africa intensify efforts to close digital access gaps, expand broadband infrastructure, and strengthen digital economies amid growing demand for reliable internet access and mobile connectivity.
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