The Guinean Backbone Management Company (SOGEB) and Sierra Leonean fibre optic operator Leoncom have formalised a cross-marketing partnership aimed at enhancing digital interconnection between Guinea and Sierra Leone.
The agreement marks a significant step toward regional integration of telecommunications infrastructure.
Under this partnership, both operators will gain reciprocal access to each other’s national fibre optic networks through the Pamelap cross-border exchange point, situated along the Guinea-Sierra Leone border. This resource-sharing mechanism allows each company to leverage the other’s international capacity, optimising infrastructure use and improving the stability, cost-effectiveness, and competitiveness of broadband services.
This initiative builds on the bilateral interconnection agreement signed in November 2024, between the two governments and their relevant ministries. It aligns with the broader regional ambitions of ECOWAS to promote digital integration across West Africa, especially amid uneven telecom infrastructure development.
Current internet penetration rates highlight the need for such cooperation: in Guinea, about 26.5% of the population (approximately 3.96 million users) are online, while Sierra Leone’s rate is around 20.7% (approximately 1.80 million users), according to Datareportal figures from early 2025.
By facilitating cross-border traffic exchange, the partnership aims to improve network redundancy, reduce service interruptions, and expand bandwidth availability. These improvements are expected to lower connectivity costs, stimulate digital adoption, and foster the development of new services in key sectors such as e-government, education, and healthcare, ultimately contributing to the digital growth of both nations.
