Cabo Verde Digital - Inter-Island Connectivity
Bridging the Archipelago: The Critical Modernization of Inter-Island Connectivity
For an archipelagic nation like Cabo Verde, national unity is as much a logistical challenge as it is a political one. While international submarine cables like EllaLink and Equiano have successfully plugged the country into the global digital ecosystem, the domestic distribution of that bandwidth remains a critical hurdle. The vision of a "Cyber Island" cannot be realized if the digital superhighway ends at the beaches of Praia or Mindelo.
To address this, Cabo Verde has launched a pivotal infrastructure project: the replacement and modernization of the passive fiber-optic submarine cable network that interconnects the country's islands.
The Imperative for Replacement: Addressing Obsolescence
The current inter-island fiber optic network, which acts as the nervous system of the country, is facing a critical deadline. The existing segments have reached the "end of their useful life," posing significant risks to the reliability of national communications. Without modernization, the archipelago risks a "digital fragmentation," where the benefits of the digital economy are concentrated solely in the capital and the northern hub, while the peripheral islands suffer from digital isolation.
In response, Cabo Verde Telecom (CV Telecom) launched an international tender in December 2024 for the "Connectivity 2.0" program (specifically project CSII-4). This project involves the design, supply, and installation of six new segments of submarine cable, totaling approximately 750 kilometers. The timeline is aggressive and indicative of the project's urgency: works are anticipated to commence in August 2025, with full commissioning expected by June 2026.
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Distributing the Digital Dividend Beyond the Hubs
A central critique of many digital development strategies in island nations is the concentration of resources.
Currently, the islands of Santiago (hosting the capital, Praia) and São Vicente (home to Mindelo) serve as the primary landing points for international cables and host the two campuses of the new TechPark CV. However, the "Cyber Island" strategy explicitly aims to ensure that the benefits of high-speed internet reach "beyond the main hubs of Santiago and São Vicente".
The new inter-island network is the physical mechanism required to distribute the massive bandwidth provided by the new international EllaLink and Equiano cables to the tourism-heavy islands of Sal and Boa Vista, as well as the more remote islands like Fogo, Maio, and São Nicolau.
By modernizing this domestic backbone, the government aims to address market failures that lead to under-investment in broadband for lower-population or "hard-to-reach" areas. This democratization of access is a prerequisite for the country's goal to digitize 60% of public services by 2026, ensuring a citizen in Brava has the same digital access to the state as a citizen in Praia.
Resilience and the 5G Horizon
Replacing these aging cables is not merely about maintenance; it is a strategic upgrade essential to improve functionality, efficiency, and resilience. Resilience is particularly vital for Cabo Verde, which is prone to natural hazards. A robust, modernized inter-island ring provides redundancy; if one link fails, traffic can be rerouted, preventing the digital blackout of an entire island.
Furthermore, this infrastructure is the foundational bedrock for the next generation of mobile connectivity. The renovation aims to anticipate and facilitate the deployment of 5G mobile networks across all islands. 5G technology requires robust fiber backhaul to function; without high-capacity subsea cables linking the cell towers on different islands, the promised speeds of 5G would be impossible to deliver outside the main urban centers.
Financing the Backbone
The scale of this undertaking is significant, with the "Connectivity 2.0" investment package budgeted at over €80 million. A crucial component of this financing is a €37 million loan signed with the European Investment Bank (EIB).
This financing is part of the European Union's "Global Gateway" strategy, which aims to narrow global investment gaps in digital infrastructure. The EIB's involvement underscores the project's alignment with broader developmental goals: by securing the domestic digital links, the project supports the wider West African region's integration, enabling Cabo Verde to act as a secure transit platform.
Summary
The modernization of the inter-island submarine cable network represents the "last mile" of Cabo Verde's digital sovereignty. While international cables bring the world to Cabo Verde, the domestic cables bring Cabo Verde to itself. By replacing obsolete infrastructure with a state-of-the-art fiber network, the country ensures that its digital transformation—from digital nomads in Sal to smart agriculture in Santo Antão—is an inclusive national reality rather than a privilege reserved for the capital.
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