• Government targets connectivity, regulation, and digital inclusion

• Plan includes fiber expansion, better service quality, and cybersecurity

• Sector shows growth but still faces coverage and cost challenges

President Félix Tshisekedi has outlined six priorities to reform and modernize the telecommunications sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the country looks to address persistent gaps in connectivity and service quality.

Speaking on April 27 at the opening of the first national forum on postal and telecommunications services in Kinshasa, the president set out a roadmap focused on strengthening infrastructure, improving regulation, and expanding access to digital services.

Connectivity, regulation, and skills at the center

The first priority is to improve connectivity. Authorities plan to accelerate fiber-optic deployment, strengthen the national backbone, and improve interconnections between provinces. Satellite solutions will also be used to reach remote areas.

Reform of the legal and regulatory framework is another key focus. The government aims to create a clearer and more attractive environment to encourage private investment in a sector still constrained by tax pressures and governance challenges.

Improving service quality and protecting users also rank high on the agenda. Officials say market growth must be matched by better access, reliability, and affordability, especially as complaints about network performance remain common.

The plan also emphasizes digital inclusion, with efforts to bring rural populations, young people, and small businesses into the digital economy. This includes investment in digital education to support employment and innovation.

Finally, the government identifies technological sovereignty and cybersecurity as strategic priorities. Measures will focus on strengthening data protection, securing critical infrastructure, and safeguarding public systems.

Growth alongside structural challenges

The plan comes as the telecom sector shows mixed progress. The country now has nearly 36 million internet users, but penetration remains around 35%, with significant regional disparities.

High connectivity costs and logistical constraints continue to limit expansion. About 55% of the population still lacks access to 4G coverage, and industry analysts regularly cite heavy taxation as a barrier to network development, especially in underserved areas.

For the government, the challenge is to turn existing infrastructure and reforms into a productive digital ecosystem. By directing investment toward broadband and network security, authorities aim to capture more value from the digital economy and respond to growing demand, as mobile usage now far exceeds traditional banking access.

The president said the goal is to position digital technologies, telecommunications, and postal modernization as key drivers of national development, with the ambition of turning the Democratic Republic of Congo into a digital nation by 2030.

Samira Njoya