Chinese telecom service provider China Communications Services Corp (CCS), a major contractor for China's own network construction, is steadily pressing ahead with an information highway project in Africa.
In April 2015, the Belt and Road Initiative put its support behind the CCS-initiated "Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal" plan in Africa. The project will cover major cities in most African countries. Once completed, it will act as a foundation for the construction of regional networks, city networks and wireless networks, according to insiders.
The project will support domestic enterprises, upgrade optical fiber networks, connect the information highway and drive economic growth on the African continent, creating a number of jobs, said Xu Chuguo, vice president of CCS. Xu said the company has already signed memoranda of understanding with Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
The project will guarantee more Africans access to high-quality networks, said Debrestion Gebremical, Ethiopian minister of Communication and Information Technology. The minister believes the information highway project will push forward economic and social development in Ethiopia.
Africa has a large working population and massive market demand for communication. In 2016, a total of $42.8 billion was spent on information technology products and services.
