Liberia Set to Expand Broadband Connectivity with Second Submarine Fiber Optic Cable Supported by World Bank

Liberia is on the verge of enhancing its broadband capabilities by connecting to a second submarine fiber optic cable, with support from the World Bank through the West Africa Regional Digital Integration Project – Project Series 2 (WARDIP-SOP2). A delegation from the World Bank recently led a technical assessment mission of Liberia’s telecommunications sector and its broader digital landscape.

The introduction of a second submarine fiber optic cable will bolster Liberia’s digital infrastructure by providing redundancy to the existing ACE (Africa Coast to Europe) cable, to which the country connected in 2011. The current ACE infrastructure is occasionally prone to outages, resulting in disruptions to internet services across Liberia. A cable break in early August, for instance, caused internet interruptions and slowdowns in approximately ten African nations, including Liberia, lasting for several weeks.

Should the project prove successful, the new cable is expected to not only enhance the quality of internet services but also expand access to these services for millions more individuals while reducing costs. According to DataReportal, a data platform, Liberia had 1.8 million internet users as of January 2023, with a penetration rate of 33.6%. Mobile telephone service subscriptions reached 4.2 million, indicating a penetration rate of 78.4%.

Furthermore, the project is anticipated to accelerate the government’s digital transformation initiatives. Separately, the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) has sought World Bank support for various digital endeavors, encompassing a review of the Universal Access Fund’s governance and operations, regulatory framework updates, a national ICT/telecoms survey, capacity building, and enhancements in internet governance.