IllustrativeSierra Leone Second Submarine Cable
Sierra Leone · Western AreaInformation and Communications Technology (ICT) · Digital Infrastructure / Submarine Telecommunications Cable
A new submarine fibre optic cable project in Sierra Leone aimed at meeting fast-rising international bandwidth demand and lowering wholesale capacity costs. The project targets anchor capacity contracts before financial close and seeks equity alongside committed capital.
Rationale
Sierra Leone’s operators currently buy 95.5 Gbps of capacity at USD 8-15/Mbps/month, with demand forecast to grow 40% a year to 2030 and exceed 500 Gbps. A new submarine cable would add scalable international connectivity to serve this gap.
- Asset
- Submarine fibre optic cable
- Demand
- 500 Gbps by 2030
- Tariff
- USD 5/Mbps/month launch
- Stage
- Late-stage development
Investment opportunity
Transaction structure
Equity investment in a submarine cable project with anchor capacity contracts under negotiation before financial close.
Use of funds
Cable system development, landing infrastructure, network equipment and associated project delivery costs.
Revenue basis
Revenue is expected from wholesale international capacity sales to private operators. Anchor capacity contracts of 3-5 years are under negotiation at launch pricing of USD 5/Mbps/month.
The ask
Equity partners to provide USD 25 million alongside USD 13 million already committed.
Why it is bankable
Operators currently purchase 95.5 Gbps and demand is forecast to exceed 500 Gbps by 2030.
Launch pricing is set at USD 5/Mbps/month against current market purchases at USD 8-15/Mbps/month.
A 2025 feasibility study supports the project and the financial model has been third-party reviewed.
A landing site has been selected and grid power is available at the landing location.
Data and evidence · Demand and pricing evidence
Project readiness and timeline
- OriginationGreenfield concept defined
- Feasibility2025 study completed
- StructuringCurrent stage
- Financial closeAnchor contracts pending
- ConstructionTo follow
Key risks and mitigants
anchor capacity contracts are under negotiation before financial close.
current operator demand and forecast growth underpin the market case.
feasibility work is completed and the financial model has been third-party reviewed.
Transaction terms
- Instrument
- Equity
- Capital sought
- USD 25 million
- Committed capital
- USD 13 million
- Contract tenor
- 3-5 years for anchor capacity contracts
Development impact
Digital access
adds international bandwidth capacity for Sierra Leone’s telecom market.
Cost of service
targets lower wholesale capacity pricing than current operator purchases.
Economic activity
supports digital services that depend on resilient international connectivity.
Infrastructure resilience
submarine cables carry more than 99 per cent of global data traffic worldwide.¹