World Bank helps to improve broadband infrastructure in North Africa

13 mars 2012

The World Bank has announced ambitious plans to bring about a dramatic improvement in broadband connectivity in countries across North Africa.

To this end, the Bank said that it will ensure that it brings utilities' fiber optic networks into use, worldbank.org has reported.

According to the Bank, it will monitor the influence of the broadband roll-out, which it hopes will help to stimulate economic activity in the region.

"Worldwide, broadband is becoming an essential infrastructure for innovation, economic growth, and competitiveness," Doyle Gallegos, Practice Leader of Connectivity Infrastructure at the World Bank, commented.

"This World Bank initiative will help increase MENA countries' capacity to cope with the tremendous predicted increase in broadband traffic and to compete in the 21st century’s global market."

Earlier this month, MTN, one of Africa's leading broadband providers, said that it will invest significant sums of money in the internet infrastructure in Nigeria.

As much as N214 billion has already been earmarked for network expansion in the country this year, MTN said.

Catégorie: TIC