Marking a major stride toward advancing regional connectivity and digital market integration, the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Republic of Guinea have signed a landmark Fibre Optic Interconnection Agreement aimed at enhancing cross-border data exchange and reducing internet costs.

The agreement, signed on June 17, 2025, in Conakry, Republic of Guinea, between Leoncom (Sierra Leone) and the Backbone Management Society (Société de Gestion de la Backbone Nationale de Guinée - SOGEB), forms part of a broader bilateral telecommunications cooperation pact between the two nations. It is designed to strengthen digital infrastructure, lower transit and broadband costs for telecom operators and users, and increase national network resilience through infrastructure redundancy.

“This agreement marks a key step for the Republic of Guinea, aligning with the Government’s vision of an open and interconnected national backbone,” said Mohamed Kourouma, Director of Société de Gestion de la Backbone Nationale de Guinée (SOGEB). “This will benefit operators, businesses and citizens of both countries.”

The interconnection point is strategically located at Pamelap, a major border town linking the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Republic of Guinea. Initial transmission capacity has been set at 42.5 Gbps, with plans to expand to 100 Gbps by 2026. The infrastructure, based on fibre optic cables, will utilize secure IP/MPLS protocols to ensure high-speed, reliable and secure data communication.

Foday Rado Yokie, Chief Executive Officer of Leoncom (Sierra Leone), emphasized the transformative potential of the agreement: “The collaboration with Société de Gestion de la Backbone Nationale de Guinée (SOGEB) will accelerate access to high-speed internet in the Republic of Sierra Leone while promoting economic exchanges with the Republic of Guinea.”

The initiative aligns with regional goals championed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union to deepen digital integration and connectivity across West Africa. It also forms a critical part of the Guinea-Sierra Leone Digital Pact 2024, which aims to harmonize digital markets and services between the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Republic of Guinea.

Nouhan Traoré, Secretary General of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy of the Republic of Guinea, noted, “This project is a critical step in realizing our shared digital future. It supports not only infrastructure development but also inclusive access to digital tools and services.”

The impact of the agreement is expected to be wide-reaching. For telecommunications providers such as Orange and MTN, the project promises reduced international data transit costs. Businesses and public institutions stand to benefit from improved bandwidth and lower latency, which will enhance operations through cloud computing, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services and digital transformation initiatives. Border communities are also expected to gain improved access to essential services such as e-health and e-learning.

Implementation will begin with the deployment of redundant infrastructure to guarantee uninterrupted service delivery across the interconnection point. Discussions are already underway to extend the fibre optic network into the Republic of Liberia as part of a broader effort to build a resilient, region-wide digital ecosystem.

This landmark agreement underscores the shared commitment of the Republic of Sierra Leone and the Republic of Guinea to foster digital development, economic growth and regional integration through modern Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure.

  https://thecalabashnewspaper.com/sierra-leone-and-guinea-strengthen-ict-ties-with-high-speed-fibre-network-agreement/