Digital Revolution in the Central African Republic: A New Era of Innovation
In the heart of Central Africa, a technological revolution is underway. The Central African Republic (CAR) has made significant strides in its digital development, thanks to a 900-kilometre-long network of fibre-optic cables that landed in the country in 2023. Funded by the African Development Bank and the European Union to the tune of €33 million, this new cable is rapidly ushering the CAR into a new and unprecedented digital age.
For Junior, a young student at a technical college in Bangui, the capital of the CAR, the impact of this digital revolution is personal. He has been working on a humanoid robot called "Mama Africa" to raise awareness about African culture and the fight against global warming. To function optimally, Mama Africa requires a high-speed internet connection, which was previously unavailable in the CAR. Now, thanks to fibre optics, Junior can put Mama Africa online, allowing everyone to interact with her, wherever they happen to be.
The new cable has also enabled the launch of a digital training centre at the University of Bangui, offering virtual and in-person training courses, access to computers, 3D printers, and personalized workshops to teach young people how to harness the potential of fibre optics and bring their projects to life. According to Arc-ange Geoffroy Ouele-Nza-Bana Zacko, head of logistics and asset management at the Central African Agency for Digital Development, and a lecturer at the University of Bangui, "This centre gives students a unique opportunity to connect to the internet at a lower cost. Fibre optics represent a real blessing for us."
The impact of the new internet connection is far-reaching. "Today, the new bandwidth available to the population facilitates access to many services that were previously inaccessible, such as audio and, most importantly, video streaming," says Samatar Omar Elmi, Project Manager at the African Development Bank. "This opens up a new range of possibilities for a large number of young people wishing to undertake and innovate in the Central African Republic."
As the country’s geostrategic position at the confluence of the continent’s eastern and western shores, the wider impact of the new internet connection cannot be understated. Arc-ange sums up the impact: "We now have young people capable of developing apps and carrying out projects that we would never have imagined in our day."
The future looks bright for the CAR, as the country continues to build on its digital momentum. With the plan for the new cable envisioning an expansion in coverage and speed, the possibilities for innovation and development are endless. As Junior puts it, "Previously, when it rained, the speed was low. Now, thanks to fibre optics, we have a stable and fast connection, even during harsh weather. What’s more, we can put Mama Africa online, so everyone can interact with her, wherever they happen to be."