The World Bank has announced it has issued a US$92mn loan to the government of DR Congo for the roll out of a fibre network in the country
The bank’s board of executive directors approved funding for the fifth stage of the ‘Central African Backbone Programme’ (CAB) for DR Congo.
The national fibre optic network also aims to connect the country’s most populated economic clusters of Kinshasa (West), Goma (East) and Lumbumbashi (South). The network is expected then to also link to other countries.
“This project provides a unique opportunity to set up critical infrastructure and capitalise on the transformative power that Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have to promote growth and open new job opportunities to Congolese citizens,” said Eustache Ouayoro, the World Bank's country director for the DRC, in a statement.
Colin Bruce, World Bank director for regional integration in Africa, added, “[The project]will not only establish communications links connecting the east of the DRC to Kinshasa, but also increase DR Congo's connectivity to the other Great lakes countries."
