Guinean and Sierra Leonean authorities have held several meetings since July as part of negotiations to advance a digital interconnection project. These discussions have laid the groundwork for collaboration between the two countries.

Rose Pola Pricemou, Guinea’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Economy, and Salima Monorma Bah, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Communication, Technology, and Innovation, signed a framework agreement on Friday, November 22, in Freetown to enhance digital interconnection between their two nations.

The agreement focuses on linking the internet backbones of the two countries, aiming to improve connectivity and facilitate digital exchanges. It builds on discussions launched during the China-Africa Digital Summit in July. In August, a Sierra Leonean delegation led by Minister Monorma Bah visited Guinea to refine the technical framework of the partnership.

According to Minister Pricemou, the initiative is expected to harmonize postal policies to improve essential services for the population—particularly in rural areas—while making networks more robust and reliable. This should reduce costs, enhance the quality of digital services, and foster a dynamic digital ecosystem. It also seeks to encourage collaborative initiatives in fields like big data and cybersecurity.

As of early 2024, Guinea had 4.87 million internet users, representing an internet penetration rate of 33.9%, according to DataReportal. Sierra Leone, in comparison, recorded 2.7 million users and a penetration rate of 30.4%.

Cost remains a barrier in both countries. In Guinea, a monthly high-speed data package (at least 5 GB at 256 Kbps or higher) required 8.1% of the average gross national income per capita in 2023, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). In Sierra Leone, the same metric stood at 38.2% in 2017, underscoring the challenge of affordable access in the region.

Adoni Conrad Quenum