A flagship PIDA PAP 2 project, the Trans-Saharan Optic Fibre Broadband Project (DTS) is a high-capacity, open-access terrestrial fiber optic backbone across six nations (Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Mali, and Mauritania), co-financed by the African Development Bank and the European Union at a total cost of EUR 79 million (including EUR 29 million EU contribution). The project is coordinated by the Commission of the Trans-Sahara Optical Fibre Backbone (CLDT), headquartered in Algeria. Algeria has fully completed its 2,548 km segment linking Algiers to In Guezzam and Tindouf. Niger achieved provisional acceptance of its 1,031 km fiber optic network across five cross-border routes on November 14, 2025, with a Tier III national data centre still to be installed. Chad's component (approximately 503-559 km to the Niger border plus a 50-km N'Djamena metropolitan network) was approximately 83% complete as of October 2024, with about 100 km remaining. The project is critical regional ICT infrastructure designed to connect landlocked Sahel countries to submarine cables, enhance digital resilience, and promote regional integration.
The Trans-Saharan Optic Fibre Broadband Project (also known as the Dorsale Transsaharienne a Fibre Optique, DTS) is a multinational terrestrial fiber optic backbone connecting six African countries: Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Mali, and Mauritania. The project is part of the African Union's New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and is a flagship PIDA PAP 2 initiative. Algeria has completed 2,548 km of fiber optic linking Algiers to In Guezzam on the Algerian-Nigerian border, plus a secondary branch to Tindouf on the Algerian-Mauritanian border. Niger's component consists of 1,031 km across five national and cross-border routes (Arlit-Assamaka to the Algerian border; Diffa-N'Guigmi to the Chad border; Zinder-Magaria to the Nigerian border; Niamey-Dosso-Gaya to the Benin border; and Niamey-Makalondi to the Burkina Faso border), plus an 88-km urban local loop connecting administrative sites to a future national Tier III data centre. The Chadian component involves laying approximately 503-559 km of cable from Massaguet via Massakory, Ngouri, Mao, Rig-Rig and Daboua to the Niger border, plus a 50-km metropolitan network in N'Djamena. The project deploys high-capacity fiber optic technology and is co-financed by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the European Union (EU), with a total project cost of EUR 79 million, including a EUR 29 million EU contribution administered by the AfDB through a delegation agreement. A coordination body, the Commission of the Trans-Sahara Optical Fibre Backbone (CLDT), is headquartered in Algeria and oversees multi-country implementation.
The project is a major Terrestrial Broadband Backbone designed to convey the excess bandwidth capacity from the shores to the hinterland and also provide an alternative gateway to Europe through Algiers as well as provide access point to landlocked Countries. It is also one of the presidential infrastructure champion Initiative (PICI) 2010 - 2015 of NEPAD aimed at accelerating socio-economic diversification of benefiting Countries
1. Increase broadband penetration in the Sahel region to reduce the digital divide, targeting improved internet access for populations in Algeria, Niger, Nigeria, Chad, Mali, and Mauritania. 2. Provide landlocked countries (Niger, Mali, Chad) with direct, multi-gateway access to international submarine cables via Algeria (Mediterranean) and Nigeria (Atlantic), diversifying connectivity beyond existing single-route dependencies such as Chad's sole reliance on Cameroon's Kribi port. 3. Create a resilient, alternative digital gateway to Europe through Algiers, strengthening regional digital resilience against submarine cable disruptions. 4. Support the digital transformation ambitions of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) by enabling efficient cross-border digital operations and e-commerce. 5. Foster economic development and regional integration by lowering the cost of internet connectivity and improving quality of service, including enabling e-government, mobile financial services, and e-commerce. 6. Accelerate the digitization of public services and create new economic opportunities, particularly for youth, through high-quality broadband connectivity. 7. Reduce development disparities in African countries by encouraging innovation among previously unconnected youth, in alignment with UN Sustainable Development Goals 9 and 10.
Original PIDA PAP 2 submission - Objective and Rationale
The project aims to achieve an increased broadband penetration; Effective and Efficient operation, monitoring, maintenance and management of critical infrastructure along the Trans Saharan route; Provide alternative international gateway to Europe; provide access point to landlocked Countries. The Report of the Feasibility Studies will assist wholly for effective planning and execution of the overall project activities