Gabon is preparing to strengthen its national digital infrastructure through a proposed public-private partnership between the Société de Patrimoine des Infrastructures Numériques (SPIN) and Gabon Fiber.

The proposed agreement was the focus of review and validation workshops held in Libreville on September 9 and 10, 2026, as stakeholders examined plans for the operation and future expansion of the Gabonese National Backbone.

The sessions were chaired by Aline Sylvie Minko-Mi-Etoua, Secretary General of the Ministry of Digital Economy, Digitalisation and Innovation, who represented the Minister, Mark-Alexandre Doumba.

Government administrations, authorities and technical experts participated in the discussions, which centred on the draft partnership agreement and its accompanying annexes.

The review process was intended to gather observations and recommendations from the relevant stakeholders before the contractual framework is finalised.

The proposed SPIN-Gabon Fiber project covers about 3,420 kilometres of network infrastructure. This comprises 1,769 kilometres of existing network infrastructure and an additional 1,651 kilometres of planned extensions.

Among the issues considered during the workshops were investment commitments, the resumption of network operations, local value creation and network sovereignty. Participants also examined the financial framework and the government’s role in overseeing the infrastructure.

The remaining contractual annexes needed to complete the agreement were also reviewed as part of the validation exercise.

The SPIN-Gabon Fiber agreement is scheduled for signing on September 14, 2026, in the presence of the Minister of Digital Economy. The signing is expected to mark the shift from the review stage to implementation of the proposed partnership.

According to the government, the initiative is designed to maintain the continued operation of the national backbone while supporting its modernisation and expansion.

The national backbone is considered strategic infrastructure for transporting electronic communications across Gabon, making its continued development central to the country’s digital infrastructure plans.

The project is expected to improve national connectivity and reinforce Gabon’s digital sovereignty, while providing infrastructure needed to advance the country’s wider digital transformation agenda.

Source: TechAfricanews