Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The United States Trade and Development Agency unveil plans to support the deployment of 1,500 mobile communication base stations across West Africa to expand internet access in underserved communities.
The project will cover Nigeria, Benin, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire using wireless infrastructure developed by US-based Vanu Inc…
In a statement released Tuesday, the agency says the initiative aims to improve digital connectivity in remote and off-grid areas where communities still depend on outdated 2G and 3G networks.
USTDA Deputy Director Thomas Hardy says the programme will help deliver affordable and trusted internet infrastructure while creating export opportunities for American technology firms.
“USTDA is bringing private sector solutions to unlock widespread, affordable, trusted internet access in off-grid communities across West Africa,” Hardy says.
The agency confirms it has funded a feasibility study for the project, which will be implemented for Vanu Côte d’Ivoire with technical support from Vernonburg Group LLC.
The study will assess regulatory frameworks, existing telecommunications infrastructure, financing models and commercial viability across the four countries.
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