Since its launch in 2015, Groupe Vivendi Africa has been expanding its footprint across the continent. Now present in seven African countries, the company continues to grow its reach and influence in the region.

Groupe Vivendi Africa (GVA), a provider of high-speed fiber optic internet, officially launched its CanalBox FTTH (fiber-to-the-home) network in Uganda on July 10th. This marks GVA's eighth African market after entering Gabon, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Kampala becomes the 13th city on the continent to benefit from these services.

"With investments of 50 billion UGX so far, GVA has managed to lay fiber cables across Kampala, with an infrastructure currently capable of connecting a total area covering 140,000 homes in Kampala, with a target to grow our network to cover an area to be able to connect up to 500,000 in 4 years," said Julius Kayoboke, General Manager of GVA Uganda.

The arrival of CanalBox is expected to intensify competition in Uganda's internet market, currently dominated by telecom operators. This increased competition should lead to improved service quality and lower costs for consumers, coinciding with Uganda's accelerated digital transformation and growing demand for high-speed connectivity. According to the latest data from the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the country boasts 27.7 million internet users, representing a 61% penetration rate.

"The internet has transformed societies in unprecedented ways, shaping the way we live, work, and interact with one another through communication, information dissemination, business transactions, education, and improved service delivery," remarked Thomas Tayebwa, Vice President of the Ugandan Parliament, who attended the launch ceremony.

Isaac K. Kassouwi