• DRC to invest $1B by 2030 to boost digital sector
• Plan focuses on connectivity, e-government, and digital skills
• Government seeks public-private partnerships, foreign tech investment

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) plans to invest $1 billion by 2030 to establish the country as a regional digital hub. Digital Economy Minister Augustin Kibassa Maliba announced the plan on Sept. 26 at the "DRC Digital Nation 2030" forum, held in New York on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The funds will primarily focus on strengthening connectivity, which the minister called the "essential foundation for digitalization." While there is still no detail on specific projects, this investment likely targets improving telecommunications services through upgrades to telecom towers, fiber optic networks, and other vital infrastructure.

Current official figures indicate mobile penetration stands at 63 percent, while internet penetration is 34 percent. However, the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) recently estimated that mobile internet penetration will be only 17 percent in 2024.

The investment of $1 billion, drawn from state's own funds and spread over five years, will allow the country to execute projects from the National Digital Plan ("Horizon 2025") that were previously stalled due to lack of direct state funding, said Dominique Migisha, Coordinator of the Agency for Digital Development, in a post on X on Saturday, Sept. 27.

Maliba also unveiled a new four-point National Digital Development Plan - Horizon 2030 to coordinate government action. Its first major pillar is developing digital infrastructure, encompassing connectivity and data hosting solutions. The plan also includes establishing e-government to modernize and digitize public services in line with international standards. It prioritizes strengthening digital governance, specifically via cybersecurity solutions, and emphasizes digital skills training, with a focus on women and youth.

This initiative is part of the Congolese authorities' strategy to make digital technology a "lever for integration, good governance, economic growth, and social progress." The GSMA, for example, estimates digital technology could add approximately $4.1 billion to the DRC's economy by 2029.

Currently, the Central African country ranks 179th out of 193 in the 2024 United Nations e-Government Development Index (EGDI), with a score of 0.2715 out of 1. This score trails the average for Central Africa (0.3354), Africa (0.4247), and the world (0.6382).

The minister stressed that achieving the ambition of becoming a digital hub requires synergy between the government, public institutions, and private sector actors. He previously highlighted the need for robust cooperation with African and international partners, urging investors, technology companies, and donors to join forces with the government through public-private partnerships, inclusive digital project financing, and strengthening local capabilities.

During the "DRC Digital Nation 2030" forum, Maliba met with U.S. firm Unity Development Fund, which expressed its intent to invest in the DRC's digital sector, specifically in strengthening digital infrastructure, promoting technological innovation, and supporting young tech entrepreneurs.

Since the start of the year, the government has engaged with multiple partners, including Microlink, Starlink, Nokia, S2T Technopole Elghazela, Genew, Zhongshi Wosen, and Trident, as well as local operators such as Africell, Vodacom, Orange, and Helios Towers. For example, a $1 billion memorandum of understanding was signed with Indian company General Technologies for digital projects in February. In June, Finance Minister Doudou Fwamba Likunde finalized a series of financing agreements totaling $1.9 billion with the World Bank, which earmarked $400 million specifically for the digital sector. The country also expects to receive 100 million euros, approximately $117 million, from the European Union.

Isaac K. Kassouwi