(Ecofin Agency) - Mobile internet subscriptions in Congo have surged by 61% over the last five years, climbing from 2.1 million in 2019 to 3.4 million in 2023, according to the Postal and Electronic Communications Regulatory Authority (ARPCE). The regulatory body, however, did not specify whether this figure represents unique subscribers or the number of SIM cards accessing the service.

This substantial increase corresponded with a 337% boost in data traffic during the same period, escalating from 15.9 billion megabytes to an astonishing 69.4 billion megabytes. This spike can be attributed to the growing popularity of social media platforms used for purposes such as news dissemination, online business activities, chatting with friends, entertainment, participating in debates on public governance, etc. It reflects increased usage of government digital services and innovative offerings by private start-ups in education, health, commerce, agriculture, and other sectors.

In alignment with the national digital transformation strategy, "Congo Digital 2025," launched in August 2019, the Congolese government is committed to fostering equitable access to digital services for all citizens by 2025. To achieve this, the government is ramping up investments in national telecom infrastructure, which includes building data centers, connecting the country to a second submarine fiber optic cable, and expanding fiber optic interconnections with neighboring countries.

Furthermore, Brazzaville is collaborating with the World Bank on the Congo Digital Acceleration Project (PATN), aimed at increasing high-speed internet access for underserved populations and enhancing the government's ability to deliver digitally adapted public services. The World Bank approved a $100 million funding for this project in June 2022, signifying a significant step towards bridging the digital divide and propelling Congo towards its digital future.