The government aims to develop the ICT sector and create a digital government that serves all Guineans by 2027.

The Chinese technology firm Huawei will support Guinea in its digital transformation. The support aims to implement robust innovative digital infrastructure to promote widespread access to ICT in Guinea. It was officialized by a memorandum of understanding signed, on Friday August 2nd, during the China-Africa Digital Cooperation Forum recently held in Beijing, China. 

Under this agreement, Huawei will assist Guinea in deploying high-speed networks, including fiber optics, to improve connectivity in both urban and rural areas. It also involves helping the country implement e-government solutions to streamline administrative processes and enhance the efficiency of public services. Other projects include developing digital platforms, data centers, and innovation hubs; establishing training and research programs in ICT and digital fields; and strengthening cybersecurity.

The signing of this memorandum of understanding is the result of recent discussions between Rose Pola Pricemou, Guinea’s Minister of Digital Affairs, and a delegation from Huawei, led by its General Manager in Guinea. During these discussions, both parties explored collaboration opportunities, focusing on information systems (SMSI), strengthening the fiber optic backbone, and extending Internet coverage in underserved rural areas.

Huawei's new commitment to Guinea is expected to not only improve the quality and coverage of connectivity services in the country but also reduce their costs. According to the latest official statistics, the country has 7.7 million internet subscribers, with a penetration rate of 56.27%. Guinea, which recently received $60 million from the World Bank for digital projects, hopes to achieve a qualitative leap in its digital transformation through this partnership.

Samira Njoya