In a move set to boost West Africa’s digital infrastructure, Guinea and Sierra Leone signed a bilateral agreement on June 18 to interconnect their national fiber-optic networks. The signing took place in Conakry, with both countries hailing the deal as a major step toward regional internet integration.

The agreement allows for shared bandwidth capacity across the border, lowering costs and improving reliability for both nations.

Telecom regulators say this could lead to faster internet access in underserved regions and better resilience during outages.
Guinea’s Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Fatoumata Sylla, said the project will “unlock new growth opportunities” for startups, schools, and hospitals that rely on stable connectivity. “It’s more than a cable , it’s a digital bridge,” she added.

The first phase of the connection will focus on linking major urban centers, with rural expansion planned in 2026.

Technical teams from both countries are already surveying terrain and infrastructure needs for the rollout.

This agreement reflects a growing recognition among West African nations that digital progress can’t happen in isolation.

Interconnectivity is not just a tech issue it’s a political and economic imperative for the region’s future.