Junior, a young student at a technical college in Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, is preparing to continue his studies at the University of Bangui. Since childhood, he has been driven by interesting and ambitious ideas. One recent project involves building a humanoid robot named “Mama Africa” to raise awareness about African culture and the fight against global warming. Using recycled materials, he constructed the robot outside of his regular class hours.
For Mama Africa to operate effectively, a high-speed internet connection is necessary. Until 2023, such a connection was unavailable in the Central African Republic. However, a 900-kilometre-long network of fibre-optic cables was installed in the country that year, funded by the African Development Bank and the European Union with €33 million. This new cable is now propelling the CAR into a digital age like never before.
Junior has experienced the impact firsthand. He mentions the improvements in internet speed during adverse weather conditions, thanks to the stable and fast connection provided by fibre optics. This has allowed Mama Africa to be accessed online by people from anywhere, enabling interaction with the robot.
Mamady Souare, the Country Manager for the African Development Bank in the Central African Republic, highlights the project’s significance in advancing digital development within the country. The launch of a digital training center at the University of Bangui is another outcome of the new cable, offering various training courses and access to technological resources for young people.
As the Central African Republic embraces these digital advancements, the possibilities for innovation and growth are expanding. The increased bandwidth provided by the new cable has already tripled internet speed for the population, with further plans to enhance coverage and speed in the future.
With the country’s strategic location bridging the eastern and western parts of the continent, the new internet connection is expected to have a profound impact. Young people now have the opportunity to develop apps and projects that were previously unimaginable. This sets the stage for a future defined by limitless innovation in the Central African Republic.
Link to album: https://apo-opa.co/4e037BK
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).