Cabo Verde - China cooperation 

Digital Archipelago: Huawei's Role in Cabo Verde's E-Government and Digital Transformation

Situated in the mid-Atlantic, the archipelago of Cabo Verde faces unique developmental challenges defined by its geography: ten volcanic islands separated by the ocean, limited natural resources, and a high dependence on services and tourism. To overcome these physical barriers and unify the state, the Cabo Verdean government has pursued an aggressive strategy of digitization. Central to this transformation is the Chinese technology giant Huawei, which has evolved from a hardware supplier into a strategic partner in building the country's "digital nervous system".

Huawei in Cabo Verde

Huawei's presence in Cabo Verde is pervasive, supplying equipment to the country's two major telecommunications providers and maintaining an active, non-exclusive commercial presence. The company's involvement aligns with the broader China-Cabo Verde "Strategic Partnership," which prioritizes the digital economy as a pillar of development,.

Beyond telecommunications, Huawei is deeply integrated into critical national infrastructure projects:

• Safe City (Cidade Segura): Huawei signed a contract for the "Safe City" project (approx. $20 million), installing video surveillance, command centers, and emergency communication systems in major urban centers like Praia and Mindelo to improve public safety,.
• Energy: In partnership with NOSi (Operational Nucleus for the Information Society), Huawei has signed agreements to implement solar photovoltaic solutions for data centers to reduce energy costs by 30% to 40%.
• 5G and Connectivity: Huawei supplies the backbone for the country's move toward 5G and high-speed internet, aiming to position Cabo Verde as a digital hub for West Africa,.

Huawei & E-Government: Connecting the Islands

The core of Huawei's engagement lies in the E-Government Project, executed in partnership with NOSi. This initiative aims to link government institutions, schools, and hospitals across the scattered islands into a single, cohesive digital network.

1. Building the E-Government Network

The fragmentation of the archipelago historically meant high administrative costs; government agencies faced travel expenses averaging $340,000 per month just for inter-island meetings.

• Phase 1 (2010–2014): Huawei constructed the initial physical backbone. This included intra- and inter-island networks using Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology to create fiber optic rings around six major islands. Wireless broadband (WiMAX) was deployed to ensure coverage for organizations in remote areas.
• Phase 2: Building on this foundation, Huawei deployed 530 routers and 669 switches to connect 1,142 organizations across the country to a unified network. This infrastructure allows for the digital delivery of services such as social security, identification documents, and land management.
• Telepresence: To reduce travel costs, Huawei installed 21 telepresence videoconferencing systems, allowing government officials to convene remote conferences between islands instantly.

2. The National Data Center and Cloud Infrastructure

A critical component of Cabo Verde's digital sovereignty is the ability to host and process its own data.

• The National Data Center: In Phase 1, Huawei delivered a National Data Center in Praia covering 200 square meters with 54 IT standard cabinets.
• Cloud Expansion (One Cloud, One Lake, One Platform): As demand grew, the original 200 Virtual Machines (VMs) became insufficient. In Phase 2, Huawei upgraded the system to 1,000 VMs and expanded storage capacity to 1,000 TB.
• Disaster Recovery: Critical to national security, the project involved transforming older data facilities into a disaster recovery center to ensure business continuity for the government in case of failure at the primary site. This infrastructure supports over 150 websites and 77 types of e-government software, including the Integrated Government Resource Planning (IGRP) framework and the Medical Information System (SIS),.

3. WebLab: Digital Education and Capacity Building

Perhaps the most forward-looking aspect of the partnership is the WebLab initiative, designed to address the shortage of local ICT talent.

• Integrated Training System: Jointly developed with the Ministry of Education, WebLab is an integrated ICT training system designed to cultivate local talent.
• Containerized Classrooms: To reach students across different islands, the solution utilizes converted containers equipped as modern laboratories. These units are deployed based on the cloud capabilities of the National Data Center.
• Curriculum and Equipment: The labs are equipped with programmable robot suites, electronic maintenance tools, and furniture. They provide vocational training for secondary school students and local residents in computer literacy, equipment maintenance, and basic programming,.

Summary

Through the construction of the National Data Center, the e-government network, and the WebLab educational initiative, Huawei has effectively provided the "hardware" for Cabo Verde's digital transformation. This infrastructure has allowed the archipelago to overcome its geographical fragmentation, reducing administrative costs and creating a unified digital platform that serves not only the government but also the education and health sectors,.