Léon Juste Ibombo (photo, centre), Congolese Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, launched on Friday 14 June the work to connect public administrations to high-speed Internet across the country. The work has been entrusted to the company Sotracom. They are expected to last six months and cost €3.2 million (US$3.5 million).

The first phase of the project involves the Ministries of the Interior, Posts and Telecommunications, Health, Justice, Social Affairs and the Civil Service. It will consist in particular of the installation of Wi-Fi access points and the implementation of digital services.

In the civil service, the minister expects in particular the improvement of the connectivity of civil status centers, the strengthening of the integrated system of civil status facts, the efficient synchronization and better management of civil data. “Similarly, Health and Justice will see an increase in the connectivity of civil status centers, hospitals, courts, which will ensure smooth and transparent data management,” he added.

The launch of this project comes two months after the deployment of broadband in Congolese public universities. It is part of the Digital Transformation Acceleration Project (PATN) which aims to increase access to broadband for underserved populations and improve the government’s ability to deliver responsive public services through digital technology. It is supported by the World Bank, which is financing it to the tune of $100 million. The 2024 budget for the program has been set at about $64 million.

As a reminder, the Congolese government has set itself the goal of promoting equitable access to digital services for all citizens by 2025. “At a time when digital technology is becoming an essential pillar of our development, the expected results of this work are obviously in line with the dear vision of the President of the Republic, Head of State, that of preparing Congo’s entry into a digital, inclusive and dynamic future: the information society,” said Mr. Ibombo.

Source: Agency EcoFin