The Smart Africa Alliance has signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Bayobab and Africa50 to
support Project East to West with regulatory and
policy engagements.
Project East to West aims to
link landlocked African countries with an extensive
terrestrial fibre optic network. This partnership recognises the vital role of
pan-African collaboration in constructing telecommunication highways, essential
to meet the surging demand and need for affordable connectivity
solutions in Africa.
Frédéric Schepens,
Bayobab Group CEO shares, “We are thrilled to join hands
with the Smart Africa Alliance on Project East to West. This
collaborative endeavour signifies the power of pan-African partners coming
together to develop connectivity solutions tailored for African development.
It exemplifies the unity of purpose among organisations that are dedicated to
bridging the digital divide and enhancing connectivity infrastructure
on the continent.”
This partnership underscores the imperative of bridging the
digital divide by extending networks from Bayobab’s sixteen Subsea
Cable Systems circled around Africa, connecting landlocked
regions and creating more awareness of the initiative across the
continent. Enhanced terrestrial fibre connectivity directly contributes to
economic growth, strengthening businesses, facilitating e-commerce,
and granting broader access to educational resources, thereby propelling development. The vision of Project
East to West seamlessly aligns with the Smart Africa Alliance’s mission to
accelerate sustainable socio-economic development and foster regional
integration.
Africa50, a key partner in Project East to West,
emphasised the pivotal role of this project in advancing regional
integration and socio-economic development. “We believe that such
transformational projects are key to creating a – future
where our youth are given opportunities to learn, share, create and
play an active role in building resilient societies through innovation and new
technologies. Additionally, projects such as this contribute directly
to delivering on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)”,
said Demba Diallo, Managing
Director and Head of Project Development, Africa50.
The Smart Africa Alliance, currently represents
39 member countries across Africa and is tasked with the agenda to
drive and accelerate the digital transformation of the continent.
“Project East to West is a strong step towards bridging
the connectivity gap on the continent, one of the key priorities of
Smart Africa. We are extremely pleased to join hands with Bayobab and
Africa50 on this highly critical initiative and we look forward
to its swift implementation.” highlighted Lacina Koné, CEO of
Smart Africa commenting on the MoU signing.
The MoU between the Smart Africa Alliance, Bayobab,
and Africa50 underscores the pivotal role of connectivity as a catalyst for
African development and growth, through enabling business
expansion, job creation and skills development.