Niger: Moving toward digital transformation with a committee dedicated to critical infrastructure
In a global context of accelerated digitalization, Niger is laying the groundwork for an ambitious digital transformation. On July 23, 2025, the government officially established the National Committee responsible for implementing and operationally deploying critical digital infrastructure, marking a key step in the country’s modernization of the ICT sector.
This initiative is part of a strategic effort to bridge the country’s digital gap. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), more than 75% of Nigeriens were not using the Internet in 2024, highlighting the urgency of investing in information and communication technologies. The new committee’s main responsibilities will include defining governance frameworks, ensuring system interoperability, overseeing deployment phases, establishing performance indicators, and maintaining transparent communication with all stakeholders. It will also be tasked with producing quarterly reports to assess project progress.
In a statement released on social media, the Ministry of Communication and New Information Technologies emphasized the importance of ensuring the resilience and security of critical digital infrastructure in the face of growing cyber threats. Protecting these systems is considered a national priority, both for digital sovereignty and the stability of the country.
Among the major ongoing projects are the construction of a national data center, scheduled for September 2025, and the deployment of 1,031 km of fiber optic cable as part of the Trans-Saharan Fiber Optic Backbone (DTS)—97% of which had been completed as of January. Other key projects include the establishment of an Internet Exchange Point (IXP), a Virtual Landing Point (VLP), a National Cybersecurity Center, a Technology Monitoring Center, and an international communications management gateway.
However, according to the United Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI), Niger still lags behind, with a telecommunications score of 0.1578 out of 1. The success of this reform will therefore depend on the new committee’s ability to mobilize resources, coordinate effectively, and ensure the concrete implementation of the projects.
