View source for Engineering:Central African Backbone

{{Short description|Internet backbone}}
[[File:Fibre optique à Ouesso Congo 2015.jpg|thumb|Fibre optic cables being dug into the ground in Ouesso in Northern Congo in 2015.]]
The '''Central African Backbone''' (CAB) is a fiber-optic Internet backbone connecting the countries of the [[Organization:Economic Community of Central African States|Economic Community of Central African States]] (ECCAS) in [[Earth:Africa|Africa]] via high speed internet. The countries included in the CAB project are: Cameroon, the Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Republic of the Congo and São Tomé and Príncipe. It's split up into five phases, each phase focusing on the fibre rollout in one or more countries.

==List of CAB phases==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Phase
! Reference
! Countries
! Approval Date
! Closing Date
! Status
! Total Project Cost
|-
| Phase 1<ref name="APL1A Main Page">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldbank.org/projects/P108368/central-african-backbone-apl1a?lang=en |title= |website=www.worldbank.org |access-date=26 April 2015}}{{SemiBareRefNeedsTitle|date=May 2022}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" | APL1A
| {{Flagu|Cameroon}}<br />{{Flagu|Central African Republic}}<br />{{Flagu|Chad}}
| 24 September 2009
| 15 March 2016 
| style="background: #99ff99" | Finished<ref name="Implementation completion and results report for the communications infrastructure and technology APL Project (APL1A)">{{cite web |url=http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/100611482161172882/pdf/Central-African-Backbone-APL1A-ICR-P108368-final-cleared-12162016.pdf  |title= |website=documents.worldbank.org |access-date=20 January 2020}}{{SemiBareRefNeedsTitle|date=May 2022|format=.pdf}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right;" | $26,730,000 USD
|-
| Phase 2<ref name="APL2 Main Page">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldbank.org/projects/P117652/central-african-backbone-apl2?lang=en |title= |website=www.worldbank.org |access-date=26 April 2015}}{{SemiBareRefNeedsTitle|date=May 2022}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" | APL2
| {{Flagu|São Tomé and Príncipe}}
| 20 January 2011
| 31 December 2014 
| style="background: #99ff99" | Finished<ref name="Implementation completion and results report for the Centralafrican Backbone Program (APL2)">{{cite web |url=http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/234391468190440376/pdf/ICR3141-P117652-Box391488B-OUO-9.pdf  |title= |website=documents.worldbank.org |access-date=20 January 2020}}{{SemiBareRefNeedsTitle|date=May 2022|format=.pdf}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right;" | $14,900,000 USD
|-
| Phase 3<ref name="APL3 Main Page">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldbank.org/projects/P122398/central-african-backbone-apl3-republic-congo?lang=en |title= |website=www.worldbank.org |access-date=26 April 2015}}{{SemiBareRefNeedsTitle|date=May 2022}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" | APL3
| {{Flagu|Republic of the Congo}}
| 25 May 2011
| 29 October 2019
| style="background: #99ff99" | Finished<ref name="Implementation completion and results report for the AFCRI-Central African Backbone - APL3 - Republic of Congo">{{cite web |url=http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/771951572880867186/pdf/Congo-Republic-of-Third-Phase-of-the-Central-African-Backbone-Program-Project.pdf  |title= |website=documents.worldbank.org |access-date=18 January 2020}}{{SemiBareRefNeedsTitle|date=May 2022|format=.pdf}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right;" | $33,680,000 USD
|-
| Phase 4<ref name="APL4 Main Page">{{cite web |url=https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P122776 |title=Development Projects : Central African Backbone - APL4 - Gabon - P122776 |website=projects.worldbank.org |access-date=24 May 2021}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" | APL4
| {{Flagu|Gabon}}
| 28 March 2012
| 9 April 2021 
| style="background: #99ff99" | Finished<ref name="Implementation completion and results report for the fourth phase of the Central African Backbone Program - Gabon project">{{cite web |url=https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/622871619791053067/pdf/Gabon-Fourth-Phase-of-the-Central-African-Backbone-Program-Gabon-Project.pdf  |title= |website=documents1.worldbank.org |access-date=25 May 2021}}{{SemiBareRefNeedsTitle|date=May 2022|format=.pdf}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right;" | $132,000,000 USD
|-
| Phase 5<ref name="SOP5 Main Page">{{cite web |url=http://www.worldbank.org/projects/P132821?lang=en |title= |website=www.worldbank.org |access-date=26 April 2015}}{{SemiBareRefNeedsTitle|date=May 2022}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" | SOP5
| {{Flagu|Democratic Republic of the Congo}}
| 16 July 2014
| 31 March 2022 
| style="background: #99ff99" | Finished<ref name="Implementation completion and results report for AFR RI Central African Backbone SOP5">{{cite web |url=https://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/271291649102938232/pdf/Eastern-Africa-Central-African-Backbone-SOP5-Project.pdf  |title= |website=documents1.worldbank.org |access-date=8 April 2022}}{{SemiBareRefNeedsTitle|date=May 2022|format=.pdf}}</ref>
| style="text-align:right;" | $38,093,000 USD
|}

==Funding==
The project is funded by a loan from the [[Organization:World Bank|World Bank]], initially estimated at $160 million USD.<ref name="CAB Initial Project Layout">{{cite web |url=http://go.worldbank.org/MPTI3O2IS0 |title= |website=go.worldbank.org |access-date=26 April 2015}}{{SemiBareRefNeedsTitle|date=May 2022}}</ref> As of 2015, total [[Organization:World Bank|World Bank]] funding for the project is at $206 million USD, and the total project cost, including financing from other sources than the [[Organization:World Bank|World Bank]], is estimated at $273 million USD.<ref name="APL1A Main Page" /><ref name="APL2 Main Page" /><ref name="APL3 Main Page" /><ref name="APL4 Main Page" /><ref name="SOP5 Main Page" />

==CAB in Cameroon==
In Cameroon the CAB runs from the coast, through the capital of Yaoundé, to the north east where it meets up with the Chadian part of the backbone.<ref name="ITU Interactive Transmission Map Public version">{{cite web |url=http://www.itu.int/itu-d/tnd-map-public/ |title=ITU Interactive Terrestrial Transmission/ESCAP Asia-Pacific Information Superhighway Maps |website=www.itu.int |access-date=28 April 2015}}</ref>

==CAB in Central African Republic==
The deployment of the CAB in the Central African Republic was slowed down by the political instability in 2012-2013.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/SDN/2013/03/23/090224b081a12700/1_0/Rendered/PDF/Africa000Centr0Report000Sequence007.pdf  |title= |website=www-wds.worldbank.org |access-date=28 April 2015}}{{SemiBareRefNeedsTitle|date=May 2022|format=.pdf}}</ref> It runs from Chad in the north to the capital of Bangui.<ref name="ITU Interactive Transmission Map Public version" />

==CAB in Chad==
In Chad the CAB runs from N'Djamena towards the south where it forks off in two directions, one towards Cameroon and one towards the Central African Republic.<ref name="ITU Interactive Transmission Map Public version" />

==CAB in Democratic Republic of the Congo==
In Democratic Republic of the Congo the CAB will run from Kinshasa to Lubumbashi and Kisangani.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agenceecofin.com/infrastructures/2403-27572-kinshasa-lubumbashi-et-kisangani-bientot-connectees-et-interconnectees-par-fibre-optique |title=Kinshasa, Lubumbashi et Kisangani bientôt connectées et interconnectées par fibre optique |website=www.agenceecofin.com |access-date=28 April 2015}}</ref>

==CAB in Gabon==
In Gabon the CAB runs from Libreville to Franceville, and from thereon it splits in two directions, one towards Lékoni and another towards Koulamoutou.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://gabonreview.com/blog/projet-fibre-optique-backbone-1100-km/ |title=Projet de fibre optique : Contrat pour un backbone 1100 km |website=gabonreview.com |date= 16 October 2014|access-date=28 April 2015}}</ref>

==CAB in Republic of the Congo==
In Republic of the Congo the CAB runs from the port city of Pointe-Noire to Brazzaville, and from thereon north to Ouesso.<ref name="Congo CAB Map and Presentation">{{cite web |url=http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Regulatory-Market/Documents/Brazzavile/Session9%20-1%20Luc%20Missidimbazi%20%282%29.pdf  |title= |website=www.itu.int |access-date=28 April 2015}}{{SemiBareRefNeedsTitle|date=May 2022|format=.pdf}}</ref>

==CAB in São Tomé and Príncipe==
In São Tomé and Príncipe the CAB runs in the capital of São Tomé<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stpdigital.net/sociedade/688-sao-tome-entrou-na-era-do-cabo-de-fibra-optica.html |title= |website=www.stpdigital.net |access-date=28 April 2015}}{{SemiBareRefNeedsTitle|date=May 2022}}</ref>

==International terrestrial fibre interconnection==
The CAB crosses several international borders, including a Cameroon-Chad interconnection,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.journalducameroun.com/article.php?aid=10937 |title=Journal du Cameroun - Actualités et Infos en direct au Cameroun et dans le Monde |website=www.journalducameroun.com |access-date=28 April 2015}}</ref> a Chad-CAR interconnection,<ref name="ITU Interactive Transmission Map Public version" /> a Congo-DRC interconnection between Brazzaville and Kinshasa,<ref>http://www.digitalcongo.net/article/86452 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304063658/http://www.digitalcongo.net/article/86452 |date=2016-03-04 }} | Retrieved on 28 April 2015.</ref> as well as a Congo-Gabon interconnection between running from Dolisie along the Congo–Ocean Railway, and through Mont-Mbelo, Makabana, Mossendjo and Mbinda, before crossing over into Gabon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.agenceecofin.com/infrastructures/1512-25129-huawei-va-interconnecter-le-congo-au-gabon-par-fibre-optique-pour-12-milliards-de-fcfa |title=Huawei va interconnecter le Congo au Gabon par fibre optique pour 12 milliards de FCFA |website=www.agenceecofin.com |access-date=28 April 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
*List of terrestrial fibre optic cable projects in Africa

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Optical telecommunications cables]]

{{Sourceattribution|Central African Backbone}}