On February 6, 2018, Emery Okundji (photo), Congo’s minister of posts, telecommunications and ICT, signed a statement summoning VSAT antenna holders and internet service providers (ISP) to identify themselves. The statement reveals that they have up to February 28 to do so at the Posts and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPTC).

According to the official, after this deadline “any VSAT antenna holder or internet service provider that can not be identified, will be considered as an illegal operator and will be dealt with the full force of the law”. He added that the physical or moral entities concerned by this identification campaign would have to bring their license, duly issued by the regulator and approved by the ministry in charge, in accordance with the requirements of Article 25 of the framework law No. 013/2002 of October 16, 2002, on telecommunications in the country.

Thanks to this identification campaign, the ministry of posts, telecommunication and ICT will have an up-to-date and verified database of data transmission network owners and Internet service providers across the country.