The steering committee of the Digital Transformation Acceleration Project (PATN) adopted on Tuesday May 28 a budget of 38.7 billion CFA francs ($63.9 million) for the 2024 financial year. This year, the PATN plans to carry out 57 projects that revolve around the provision of high-speed Internet in public administrations, universities, secondary schools and in the hinterland.

“  The government is counting on this project to achieve the objective of digital transformation of its economy as retained in the national development plan (PND) 2022-2026. This project aims, among other things, to increase access to underserved populations with high-speed Internet and to improve the capacity of the public sector to benefit from quality digital services  ,” indicated Fernand Sosthène Likouka (photo), of the committee management of the PATN.

The PATN was officially launched in January 2023. It is supported by the World Bank, which finances it to the tune of $100 million. It is part of the Congolese government’s objective to promote equitable access to digital services for all citizens in accordance with the national digital transformation strategy “Congo Digital 2025”. Furthermore, the executive wants to put ICT at the service of the country’s socio-economic development.

The implementation of the projects planned this year should help improve people’s access to the Internet and digital services. According to statistics from the Post and Electronic Communications Regulatory Agency (ARPCE), Congo had 3.4 million Internet subscribers in 2023 for a penetration rate of 59.7%. The country also had 5.9 million mobile phone subscribers.

Source: Agency EcoFin