Gabon : Airtel invests $7.30 million to extend its high-capacity fiber optic network

On September 27, the Gabonese subsidiary of telecommunications giant Airtel, in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Economy, launched a 208-kilometer state-of-the-art fiber optic network. The inauguration ceremony, held on Independence Boulevard, saw the connection of the first radio tower to this high-capacity network, in the presence of officials from the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts (Arcep).

By investing FCFA 4.3 billion (USD 7.30 million) in this state-of-the-art infrastructure, we are not only responding to growing demand. We are also creating the conditions for new economic opportunities. The creation of 350 Gabonese jobs linked to this project is concrete proof of this: digital transformation is not just about infrastructure, it also has a direct impact on job creation and improving the living conditions of our fellow citizens,

said Airtel Gabon CEO Thomas Herbert Gutjahr, as reported by our colleague l’Union.

More reliable connections and fast Internet

Supported by the Transition authorities, this project aims to connect Airtel’s radio towers in Libreville and Port-Gentil, significantly improving mobile Internet services in these major urban centers. The project is scheduled for completion in six months.

Once completed, users will benefit from more reliable connections, faster internet speeds and, potentially, more affordable data packages, thanks to the increased network capacity,

said the telecoms operator.

The Airtel Group, which operates in Gabon, Congo, CAR and Chad, has enjoyed a solid financial performance in recent years. In 2023, the company posted significant growth in all sectors, with sales up 20.2%, net profit after tax of 2 million dollars (1,174.4 billion CFA francs) and a total number of customers reaching 151.2 million, up 9.1% on 2022, reports  Ecomatin.

Gabon is among the top 10 African countries in terms of information and communication technology development in 2024, and leads the Central African sub-region according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) report published in June 2024. The country intends to continue its Internet development.