Ivory Coast Prime Minister Jeannot Kouadio Ahoussou has officially unveiled the construction of broadband project at the country’s the key port of San Pedro.
During the ceremony, Ahoussou said the government considered making the country more developed by 2020 and development in infrastructure is critical hence broadband “will facilitate easy connectivity across the world.”
The first phase of the Fibre-Optic project will be 1,400 kilometres to connect a network capacity of 6,000 kilometres.
China government and ICT firm Huawei will be in charge of implementing on the plan. However, the political instability in the country has been an obstacle in the Information Communication and Technology (ICT).
According to VOA, the 2011 elections result struggle between Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara forced the UN to hold back US $800 million set aside for ICT.
The Asia-based country has been active in Africa since 2012. On Thursday last week, it pledged US$20 billion loan deal that was made at a forum on China-Africa cooperation.
China’s President Hu Jintao directed that the loan will be used for improving infrastructure, manufacturing and business in Africa.
Kenyan businessman Chris Kirubi in an Interview with the BBC said China investment in Africa is increasing and could soon overtake the United States.
He termed the relationship as mutual and applauded the country for not engaging in politics.
Huawei has been in Africa for more than 10 years supplying telecommunication network and creating employment to locals and training in the continent.
