• Guinea quadrupled backbone capacity to 200 Gbps and deployed nearly 12,000 km of fiber
• Digital reforms generated more than $26.9 million in budget savings in public administration
• Telecoms now account for 4.4% of GDP and attracted about $220 million in investment

In 2025, Guinea intensified initiatives under its digital transformation strategy. Authorities accelerated infrastructure deployment, strengthened state digitalization, and modernized telecom sector governance. The Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, Rose Pola Pricemou, presented these developments during a sector review.

On infrastructure, Guinea quadrupled national backbone capacity to 200 Gbps from 50 Gbps. Authorities deployed nearly 12,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable to connect all administrative regions. The country also commissioned its first Tier 3–certified national data center, operationalized an Internet Exchange Point, and secured sovereign management of the .gn country-code domain, which strengthened network security and resilience.

Public administration digitalization also gained momentum. In 2025, authorities deployed 39 public service applications and fully digitized several key procedures, including passport issuance, through a unified digital portal. The TELEMO platform fully digitized public procurement, improving transparency and traceability. At the same time, the FUGAS unified civil service registry streamlined workforce management and generated budget savings exceeding 233 billion Guinean francs, or about $26.9 million.

Education and digital inclusion programs expanded in parallel. Authorities trained more than 10,000 people in digital skills. The Univ Connect project interconnected several universities and reached more than 80,000 students, lecturers, and researchers. In primary education, the GIGA program connected 585 schools to the internet, with authorities targeting 2,200 schools by 2026, or nearly 900,000 beneficiaries. Authorities also expanded regional digital hubs, with 20 additional centers under construction. The government invested more than $4 million to support tech entrepreneurship and stimulate local innovation.

These reforms delivered economic and strategic returns. The telecommunications sector now accounts for 4.4% of Guinea’s gross domestic product and attracted about $220 million in investment. At the same time, mobile internet costs fell by about 25%.

In 2026, authorities will prioritize extending connectivity to underserved areas, with more than 600 identified white zones. The government will also expand digital use in education and public services and strengthen cybersecurity and local data hosting. However, challenges remain, including universal access, infrastructure maintenance, and continuous skills training to support sustainable nationwide adoption.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum