23 August 2019

Cajutel has been awarded a Tier 1 ISP data services licence for its crypto project to start operations in Sierra Leone.

The Switzerland-owned and Guinea Bissau-registered business wants to use its Ethereum-based platform to increase connectivity and access to high-speed broadband in Guinea Bissau and Guinea.

Chief executive officer Andreas Fink said the plan was to first build the infrastructure that would bring reliable and affordable internet then come up with a cash transfer system that will work over it targeting its first customers in six–12 months. “I have seen the market in many places in Africa,” he said. “And all countries who have good internet are booming. And by good internet I mean reasonable speeds at affordable costs. What we see in west Africa, however, is bad quality, extremely high prices, no capacity. It’s at the speed level I had in Switzerland in 1994 when I started my first internet provider ‘Ping Net’ but 50% more expensive.”