PIDA Sector: ICT

PIDA Sub-sector: Terrestrial Connectivity Infrastructure

Member States: Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone

Region: Western Africa

Beneficiary Countries: Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra

Leone

Regional Economic Community Economic Community of West African States

(ECOWAS)

Project Institution: ECOWAS Commission, ARME

Source in the REC Master Plan: Project endorsed by ECOWAS Ministers in charge of

ICT at their 15th Meeting held on 6th October 2017. Also in line with project 2.2 of the

ECOWAS ICT strategy 2018-2023

Brief Description of the Project: The Amilcar Cabral submarine Cable Project is part of

the ECOWAS broadband Backbone infrastructure programme aimed at connecting the

island nation of Cabo Verde to its nearest neighbors on the mainland namely Guinea,

Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.

Objective and Rationale for the Project The project aims to:

• Strengthening the international connectivity of the countries concerned by linking

them to the submarine Cable Ella Link which connects Brazil to Europe

• Interconnecting Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, The Gambia, Sierra Leone

and Liberia

Location/Site: Cabo Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, The Gambia, Sierra Leone and Liberia

Existing or Planned Projects along the proposed project: The project does not

serve an existing or planned infrastructure asset of another sector.

Technical Specifications of the Project: The cable will run from Cabo Verde to Liberia,

with three branching units to Guinea Bissau, Guinea and Sierra Leone and two stubs for

future expansion to the North and South respectively. The entire length of the cable system

is 2,955km with an estimated lifetime of 25 years.

Project Financial (in USD): $ 74.5 million

Gender Procurement actions In line with ECOWAS Supplementary Act ralting to equality of rights between men and women for sustainable development in the ECOWAS region

Last Milestone Known S2A - Pre-Feasibility