In its quest for increased connectivity, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is multiplying initiatives to attract international investors. On Wednesday, October 30, a high-level meeting between Lucy Tamlyn , U.S. Ambassador to the DRC, and Augustin Kibassa Maliba, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs, provided an opportunity to address this crucial issue.

During this interview, Lucy Tamlyn highlighted the attractiveness of American suppliers for the connectivity market. “  With Minister Kibassa, we discussed how to bring more luck to these opportunities offered by the DRC  ,” she said, thus demonstrating the commitment of the United States to support the digital development of the country.

This approach follows the call made by President Félix Tshisekedi during his speech at the United Nations (UN) in September 2024. The Congolese head of state highlighted the importance of developing connectivity in Africa, calling for close collaboration with multilateral partners and telecommunications operators, while emphasizing the importance of knowledge transfer.

Despite its potential, the DRC still has relatively low internet penetration rates. According to the Congolese Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPTC), as of June 30, 2023, only 30.79% of Congolese had access to mobile internet and 0.0174% to fixed internet. To meet this challenge, the government is counting, among other things, on attracting investors.

Better connectivity brings many benefits to the development of the DRC. In rural areas, where the greatest disparities in access are concentrated, the Internet can be a formidable lever for opening up, paving the way for, among other things, online commerce, telemedicine and distance learning. In addition, according to the ITU, a 10% increase in the mobile broadband penetration rate in Africa leads to a 2.5% increase in GDP per capita.

Source: Agency EcoFin