Burundi and Zambia have taken a significant step towards enhancing their digital connectivity by signing a key agreement to lay underwater fibre optic cables in Lake Tanganyika. This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed at the recent Digital Government Africa Summit in Lusaka, marks the start of an ambitious project to improve the digital infrastructure between the two nations.
An anonymous company has been tasked with installing underwater cable linking Zambia’s Northern Province to Burundi’s southern Makamba Province. They have already laid 350 kilometres of cable. This development positions Zambia as a growing ICT hub, poised to improve the region’s communication capabilities by offering faster, more reliable internet access.
Felix Mutati, Zambia’s Minister of Science and Technology, emphasized that this initiative will strengthen the digital bond between the two countries and enable Burundi to connect more easily with other Southern and Eastern African nations through Zambia.
Burundi’s inclusion in this expanding digital network marks it as the ninth country to connect with Zambia, joining Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
Léocadie Ndacayisaba, Burundi’s Minister of Communication, Technology, and Information, expressed optimism about the partnership, calling it a “transformative milestone.” She highlighted how this project will improve access to the Internet, boost communication between the two countries, and inspire a new era of digital connectivity, ultimately significantly improving the quality of life for their citizens.
