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The Liberian Network Operators Group (LrNOG) is a forum for cooperation and the exchange of technical information between operators of Internet-connected networks in Nigeria. Started in 2025 LrNOG have enabled collaboration and sharing of experience within the Nigerian communication technology ecosystem, LrNOG will help to bring global best practices to networking in Liberian Higher Education and facilitate the setting of internet industry standards in Liberia.
Liberia, like many African nations, faces significant challenges in Internet connectivity and ICT development, which underscore the urgent need for a dedicated Network Operators Group.
According to recent data, only 43% of Africa’s population had Internet access in 2021, with Liberia’s penetration rate lagging even further due to limited infrastructure and high costs. In Liberia, the digital divide is pronounced, with urban areas having better access (50% of urban dwellers connected) compared to rural regions, where connectivity drops to just 15%. Fixed broadband subscriptions remain critically low across Africa at 0.4%, and Liberia is no exception, relying heavily on mobile broadband, which is often expensive and unreliable.
The lack of a robust terrestrial fiber optic network exacerbates these challenges. Only 59% of Africa’s population lives within reach of terrestrial backbone infrastructure, and in countries like Liberia, this figure is likely lower due to limited national fiber optic deployment. Additionally, the high cost of international bandwidth, coupled with inadequate local Internet Exchange Points (IXPs), means that much of Liberia’s Internet traffic is routed internationally, increasing latency and costs. Establishing LrNOG will address these issues by training local engineers to design, manage, and secure scalable network infrastructure, reducing reliance on costly international links and improving connectivity.
The recent collaboration between Nokia and iSAT Africa to extend Internet access to underserved rural regions in Liberia highlights the potential for innovative solutions but also the need for skilled local professionals to sustain such efforts. LrNOG will empower Liberian network operators to maintain and expand these initiatives, ensuring long-term impact. Furthermore, the African Union’s goal of universal connectivity by 2030 underscores the urgency of building local capacity to achieve sustainable digital inclusion.
Network Operators Groups (NOGs) are critical to the global Internet ecosystem, fostering technical expertise and collaboration among network operators. Since the inception of the Internet Society’s INET workshops in 1993, NOGs have emerged worldwide to localize capacity building, reduce training costs, and tailor solutions to regional needs. In Africa, AfNOG, established in 2000, has trained thousands of engineers across 20 countries, significantly enhancing Internet infrastructure and resilience. For instance, AfNOG’s workshops have multiplied training capacity over the past decade, creating a flourishing community of skilled professionals who maintain Africa’s Internet backbone.
Globally, NOGs have set a precedent for community-driven technical advancement, enabling operators to share best practices, address security challenges, and optimize network performance. In Africa, NOGs have been instrumental in mitigating outages, such as the 2024 West African submarine cable disruption, where community collaboration restored connectivity faster than would have been possible otherwise. LrNOG will replicate this model in Liberia, creating a platform for local ISPs, academic networks, government agencies, and NGOs to collaborate, share knowledge, and build resilient infrastructure.
