–Secures Liberia’s Internet Future After Years of Vulnerability
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia’s long-standing battle with internet fragility may finally be turning a corner, thanks to a groundbreaking collaboration between the Cable Consortium of Liberia (CCL), the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), and Orange Liberia. At a major press conference on Friday, May 2, 2024, key stakeholders reflected on the journey from crisis to stability, crediting Orange Liberia’s relentless efforts for ensuring the nation no longer lives in fear of digital blackouts.
Orange Liberia’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Greg Cardoza, recounted the telecom giant’s critical role in safeguarding Liberia’s digital infrastructure during a period of unprecedented vulnerability. He highlighted bold investments, rapid crisis response, and the challenges faced in ensuring national connectivity—a mission that became a lifeline for the nation.
Cardoza revealed that Liberia’s digital survival was once hung by a thread—dependent on just one fiber route. Recognizing this fragility, Orange Liberia, under the CEO’s leadership, launched an ambitious digitization program years ago, prioritizing national connectivity. “We reached out to other mobile network operators for partnership. When no one stepped forward, we took the bold step alone,” Cardoza said, referencing the company’s independent investment in fiber infrastructure.
The urgency of Orange’s decision became painfully clear last year when a major fiber cut plunged Liberia into a digital blackout. Cardoza hailed the provisional approval from the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), Orange swiftly established cross-border connectivity, keeping services running and supporting other providers during the crisis.
Earlier this year, the LTA and the Cable Consortium of Liberia (CCL) worked with Orange Liberia in actualizing a monumental challenge: securing national connectivity amid escalating threats—fiber cuts, fires, road accidents, and even community disruptions.
Cardoza described the relentless efforts of Orange’s teams, who made daily trips from Monrovia to monitor and protect infrastructure. “It was a race against time,” he admitted.
Orange executed a high-stakes restoration plan in just four days. “We met the mandate with exceptional commitment,” Cardoza declared, crediting the success to rigorous planning and rapid execution.
As a CCL shareholder, Orange played a dual role—bolstering CCL’s operations while serving as Liberia’s connectivity safety net. Cardoza praised the leadership of CCL’s Chairman and CEO, calling their coordination “instrumental” in the mission’s success.
Cardoza closed on an uplifting note: “This achievement isn’t just about restoring connectivity—it’s about collaboration, resilience, and leadership.” With Liberia’s digital backbone now stronger, he believes Orange Liberia stands as a key player in the nation’s technological future.
Venerating Orange Liberia’s Achievements
Orange Liberia’s CEO, Jean-Marius Yao, highlighted the redundancy effort, but shifted the tone to celebration, spotlighting the company’s broader contributions to Liberia’s digital transformation.
With 1 million active Orange Money users and recognition as Liberia’s best network for three consecutive years (based on speed, coverage, and reliability), Orange has cemented its position as the country’s telecom leader.
The company has laid 673 km of fiber, ensuring high-speed internet and international connectivity.
A new data center in Buchanan will complement Monrovia’s infrastructure, offering secure backup for institutions. Since 2016, Orange has contributed $291 million to Liberia’s national revenue while advancing financial and energy inclusion. Moreover, the company is set to launch 5G services, positioning Liberia for next-generation connectivity.
From Crisis to Consistency
Giving the overview of the process, Orange Liberia Head of Legal and Regulative traced the roots of Liberia’s connectivity struggles, recalling a devastating outage years ago that brought the country to a standstill. “Liberia was entirely cut off from the world,” he said. “But Orange didn’t just rely on a single cable—they took action.”
When traditional infrastructure failed, Orange Liberia engaged the LTA and deployed an alternative fiber route from Monrovia to the Ivorian border, creating a crucial backup. This foresight proved vital when another major outage struck during discussions about formalizing the link. The LTA swiftly authorized Orange to activate the backup—and within just 36 hours, Liberia was back online.
“Since then, there have been multiple outages, but the public didn’t notice—because Orange intervened every time,” he emphasized, referencing the most recent incident where Orange swiftly rerouted traffic to prevent disruption.
The Chairman of the Cable Consortium of Liberia (CCL) expressed overwhelming relief, admitting that without Orange Liberia, achieving redundancy might have been impossible. His words, “Since 2010, Liberia has struggled with this issue. Now, for the first time, we have true redundancy.” He praised Orange’s unyielding commitment, stating, “The entire country was banking on your network—lying on your doorstep. And you proved that your infrastructure is firm, strong, and reliable.”
A Lifeline for Liberia’s Digital Future
Bamaro Traore, Director CIO at Orange Liberia, highlighted the transformative impact of Orange Liberia’s fiber optic infrastructure, describing it as the country’s “lifeline” during a period of increasing reliance on digital connectivity. He noted that the company’s timely intervention was driven by a commitment to minimizing disruptions for individuals, businesses, and institutions. The CIO believes that the deployment of this critical infrastructure has not only enhanced internet reliability but also positioned Liberia as a competitive player in the regional digital landscape.
Traore expressed his gratitude to the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and the Cable Consortium of Liberia (CCL) for their pivotal roles in advancing the nation’s digital infrastructure. Traore commended their leadership and the trust placed in Orange Liberia to bridge the digital divide between Liberia and the rest of the world. He emphasized that the company’s bold decision to spearhead critical connectivity initiatives was instrumental in ensuring Liberia remains integrated into the global digital economy.
He further extended appreciation to Orange Liberia’s dedicated team and all stakeholders involved in the project, acknowledging their collective effort in achieving this milestone. He stressed that the success of the initiative was a testament to strong partnerships and shared vision. All speakers at the news conference emphasized the power of partnership—between Orange, CCL, and the LTA—in achieving this milestone. The CCL Chairman summed it up: “This is a success story for all of Liberia.”
Orange Liberia is one of the largest mobile network operators in Liberia. The company was founded in 2003 as Cellcom Liberia, backed by US-based private international investment firm YCF Group. Cellcom was wholly acquired by French multinational Orange Group (via its Orange Cote d’Ivoire business unit) in early 2016.
