Facebook Partners With Pan-Africa-Tech Group To Build Fibre Network In DRC

Facebook Inc has partnered with Pan-African technology group, Liquid Intelligent Technologies to build a long haul and metro fibre network in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The fibre network will be funded by Facebook but owned and operated by Liquid Intelligent Technologies. When completed, it is expected to improve Internet quality for 30 million people and provide regional connectivity for Central Africa.

Liquid Intelligent Technologies Group CEO, Nic Rudnick  claimed that the project is the hardest fibre build ever undertaken and that the fibre network will cross “more than 2,000 kilometres of some of the most challenging terrain in the world.”

The fibre network is expected to stretch from the Atlantic Ocean through the Congo Rainforest then across East Africa to 2Africa, a large subsea cable connecting Africa, Middle East and Europe.

Described as a digital corridor by Liquid Intelligence Technologies, the network will connect DRC to neighbouring African countries including Angola, Zambia, Uganda, Congo, Rwanda, and Tanzania.

Over 5,000 locals will be employed to work on the project the company said.

The project holds promising prospects for Internet connectivity in DRC. According to a study by CDC Group — UK owned development finance institution for Africa and Asia — in 2020, 9% of people in DRC use the internet, with the high cost of connectivity cited as the most significant reason.