Niger Internet of Things Project Battery

What is Niger's Smart Villages Project?

Under the Smart Villages project, all of Niger’s 15,000 administrative villages will be digitally connected to one another, with the government also providing access to digital services for the population living in these areas.

How many Nigerien villages are connected to the Internet?

So far, 15 Nigerien villages are connected to the Internet via satellite, with 10 more scheduled to be connected in the coming months. “The hope is that taking this type of universal connectivity all the way to rural areas will truly help us materialize the digital transformation that Africa needs,” Inné adds. A smart village is a healthy village

How important is Internet access to Niger's future economic and social development?

Take Niger, for example. The landlocked country is 70 per cent desert and more than 80 per cent of its population live in rural areas. The country’s economy is largely based in internal markets and mostly dependent on agriculture. So, access to the internet is crucial to Niger’s future economic and social development.

Why should Niger invest in the future of ICTs?

Niger 2.0 Investing in the future of ICTs now will ensure that Niger’s young population – almost 60 per cent of its population under 24 years old – won’t be left behind. “Through its leadership, Niger can show the world how collaboration on the ground under a whole-of-government approach can leave no one behind.”

Why does Niger have a low Internet access rate?

The country’s economy is largely based in internal markets and mostly dependent on agriculture. So, access to the internet is crucial to Niger’s future economic and social development. Yet, it is has one of the lowest internet access and broadband coverage rates in Africa; only 4.3% of the population are using internet.

What is Niger's new innovation city?

Niger’s new Innovation City – a hub and incubator near Sadore where innovators develop solutions tailored to local needs – is a key component of the Smart Villages initiative. “Local people can innovate, but there is no market,” Eskandar explains. “The Smart Villages initiative brings a market perspective.”