"The World Bank said Tuesday it would invest $215 million to help develop high-speed internet infrastructure in central Africa and make the service more accessible to people in the region. 'This program will support the countries of the Central African region in developing their high-speed telecommunications backbone infrastructure to increase the availability of high-speed internet and reduce end-user prices,' it said in a statement...." [Agence France Presse/Factiva]

Xinhua adds that "...the Central African Backbone Program (CAB Program) will also help countries harmonize the laws and regulations that govern the ICT sector to increase private sector investment and improve competition, the Bank added. Three countries, Cameroon, Chad and Central African Republic - are participating in the initial $26.2 million phase of the Program...." [Xinhua/Factiva]

Reuters reports that "...Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, and Sudan can also participate....The 10-year program is being supported through a partnership between the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank...." [Reuters/Factiva]