The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has begun evaluating proposals for a major digital infrastructure project aimed at improving internet resilience and expanding regional connectivity across West Africa.
Delegates and government officials from The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia and Sierra Leone are meeting at the ECOWAS headquarters in Abuja from 29 June to 10 July 2026 to assess bids for the supply of submarine cable capacity.
The exercise forms a critical part of the procurement process for a regional initiative to deploy a second submarine cable linking the participating countries. The project seeks to enhance the redundancy and resilience of digital infrastructure, reducing the risk of internet outages and ensuring more reliable connectivity across the sub-region.
The initiative is being implemented under the Western Africa Regional Digital Integration Program (WARDIP), with financing from the World Bank. It is designed to strengthen regional digital integration by improving broadband infrastructure and expanding access to secure, high-speed internet services.
A second submarine cable is expected to provide an alternative route for internet traffic, helping participating countries minimize disruptions caused by cable failures while improving network performance and reliability for businesses, governments and citizens.
Beyond enhancing connectivity, the project is expected to support digital transformation across the region by facilitating e-commerce, digital financial services, online education, e-government services and innovation-driven economic growth. Improved digital infrastructure is also expected to make the participating countries more attractive destinations for investment in technology and digital services.
The evaluation exercise reflects ECOWAS’ broader commitment to building resilient regional infrastructure that supports economic integration and accelerates the implementation of the region’s digital agenda.
ECOWAS is advancing a strategic digital infrastructure project that will strengthen internet resilience in five West African countries, with a second submarine cable expected to improve connectivity, support digital economies and enhance regional integration.
