ITU launches Africa-BB-Maps to improve broadband mapping

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has launched the operational phase of Africa-BB-Maps, a project designed to implement harmonized national broadband mapping systems across sub-Saharan Africa. The program officially commenced on March 26 and 27, 2025, in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The initiative aims to move beyond national averages to provide detailed, neighborhood-level data regarding connectivity. By utilizing Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the project will map the precise locations of fiber optics, base stations, data centers, and submarine cable landing points, as well as service quality in specific areas.

The project is scheduled to run until 2028 and will support regulatory authorities in eleven countries, including Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The ultimate goal is to empower these nations to produce and utilize their own connectivity data to address digital gaps between urban centers and rural localities.