World Telecommunication Day
By Fatima LAMINE | FatimaLAMINEHebdo
(Bangui, 18 May 2026 – LNC) Yesterday marked World Telecommunication Day, yet another one, and naturally, here in the Central African Republic, we couldn’t let the occasion pass without celebrating. According to a certain Gauthier Guezewane Gbowe, digital economy officer at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, this year’s theme was: ‘Prospects for strengthening the resilience of digital infrastructure in the Central African Republic’. According to him, the country has made major strides in the telecommunications sector. During the 1980s and 1990s, it saw the establishment of SOCATI following SOCATEL. Then, in 1997, came the advent of mobile networks. From 2016 to the present day, the focus has been on building the national fibre-optic infrastructure. There are currently around 2,200 kilometres of fibre-optic cable in the country, connecting it to the Congo and Cameroon. Then came 4G, with mobile operators such as Orange, Moov Africa and Telecel. We now have access to high-speed internet via satellite, thanks to Starlink technology. This technology is gradually covering the entire national territory and providing digital services to the population. He adds: “Our country has therefore made significant progress in telecommunications, regulation and the development of digital services.” However, despite this… theoretical progress, the system is not working properly, and all these impressive technologies have one major flaw: they rely on electricity, and there are still several challenges to be overcome. These include the deployment of more relay masts across the country’s 20 prefectures, the extension of 4G beyond Bangui, the continued roll-out of the national fibre-optic network, the wider adoption of digital technologies, the connection of all public administrations, and bringing digital services closer to the people. But much is expected of these technologies: “Our country is gradually becoming a connected nation. Citizens are entering the digital age. Our economy could see significant growth, and people will have access to the same opportunities as the rest of the world. Public services will be able to be provided directly in citizens’ local areas, without them needing to travel to Bangui. We will also be able to develop digital taxation and strengthen the digital economy,” he adds. According to this project manager, several long-term projects are on the horizon. These include, in particular, the roll-out of fibre-optic networks across the entire Central African Republic. And to ensure complete coverage of the country, approximately 12,000 kilometres of fibre-optic cable would be required. In addition, fibre-optic networks would need to be laid from South Africa to North Africa, crossing the Central African Republic. Similarly, connections could link Douala to Addis Ababa via Bangui, Bria and Obo, explains Gauthier Guezewane. “Our ambition is also to prepare for the arrival of 5G, to develop data centres and technologies related to artificial intelligence,” he concluded.
LNC
Date: 18 May 2026
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