Gov’t to launch FCFA 32 bln CAB project in 2016

The government of Cameroon, represented by Minette Libom li Likeng (photo), the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, and African Development Bank have signed a loan agreement at the counter of 24.2 billion CFA francs for the completion of the second phase of the Central Africa Backbone (CAB), Cameroon component.

The agreement was signed on November 30, 2015.

The fund is for the deployment of additional 914 km optical fiber from the country to its neighbors like Nigeria, Congo and the Central African Republic.

Overall project valued at 32.2 billion FCFA because in addition to the funds allocated by the ADB, there was a sum of 1.530 million Euros (FCFA 1 billion) provided by the Global Environment Fund (GEF). Cameroon will bring nearly 7 billion FCFA.

According to Minette Libom li Likeng, work around the CAB 2 will start in 2016. The representative of ADB in Cameroon asked the authorities of the country to put in efforts to ensure that the funding around this new project be released for this purpose in January.

The construction works of the component 2 of the CAB-Cameroon will last four years. The second phase of Cameroon CAB component is the logical continuation of phase 1 which will be completed during the first quarter of 2016.

Launched in 2009, it focused on the deployment of optical fiber through the big cities of the country. It will officially end in the first quarter of 2016.

Once completed, the CAB-Cameroon should, after Pierre Sonfack, its coordinator, increase connectivity in the country and also its neighbours in the Central Africa sub-region, promote good governance through e-government and raise the development of the digital economy.