Guinea-Conakry’s ANSUTEN Unveils Study to Expand Digital Coverage

Guinea-Conakry’s National Agency for Universal Service of Telecommunications and Digital (ANSUTEN) has presented the findings of a technical and strategic feasibility study for covering the country’s white and grey zones. Unveiled on July 22, the study identified and mapped areas without telecom services—mostly rural communities—with the objective of enabling their access to digital technologies, particularly the Internet.

Launched in 2023 in partnership with international consulting firm SFM Technologies, the study aims to ensure 90% digital coverage of Guinea’s rural population by 2030. Many areas remain uncovered due to low profitability for private operators.

The study involved telecom operators, ISPs, public institutions and private stakeholders. With technical support from SFM Technologies, the study combined technical analysis, international benchmarking and field surveys. The methodology included prioritization by population density and the creation of a national Geographic Information System to guide deployment.

The Universal Service Fund, a dedicated directorate, will be used to finance connectivity in these zones. An international tender will follow to select technical and financial partners.

NFaly Sylla, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, said, “By working toward equitable coverage of the territory, ANSUTEN embodies a national ambition to make digital technology a tool for inclusion, innovation and development.”

“We now have a shared roadmap to accelerate digital access across Guinea,” said Sylla. “We have a collective responsibility to ensure that the digital divide is no longer a fatality.”