DRC finalizes $150 million deal to strengthen digital infrastructure
October 23rd 2025
The Congolese government is banking on digital technology for the country’s socio-economic development. For example, the GSMA estimates that digital technology could add approximately $4.1 billion to the country’s gross domestic product by 2029.
According to the Congolese press, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) finalized an agreement with the Mauritius-based investment company United Investment LMT (UIL) on Monday, October 20. Initially signed in 2023, this technical and financial partnership, estimated at $150 million, aims to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure.
According to the online media Scoop RDC , the project includes feasibility studies, the deployment of 60,000 to 80,000 kilometers of fiber optics across the national territory, the installation of a submarine cable with a capacity of 192 terabits per second, the construction of three data centers, as well as the creation of the national wired and wireless telecommunications company and its equipment. The timetable for the implementation of the agreement has not been specified, however.
“The DRC needs at least 40,000 to 50,000 km of fiber optics to ensure connectivity. Internet access is currently less than 30%. However, the President of the Republic wants all 145 territories of the country to be well connected to the Internet. I wish this project good luck and I will give all my support to ensure its success ,” declared José Mpanda Kabangu (photo, right), Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, during the signing ceremony of the annexes of the agreement with UIL, quoted by Scoop RDC .
Developing digital infrastructure and connectivity is one of the four pillars of the National Digital Plan 2026–2030 (PNN2), which aims to ultimately make the country a digital hub. To support this national strategy, the government plans a public investment of $1 billion over five years, to which will be added $500 million in external support already secured by international partners. The country is also exploring other public-private partnerships to implement its ambitions. For example, the Nigerian bank Fidelity Bank has already expressed interest in financing the national telecoms satellite project to improve access to connectivity in the country.
As a reminder, the DRC scored 31 out of 100 on the International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) 2024 ICT Development Index, ranking 41st out of 47 African countries. According to the GSMA, approximately 32% of the Congolese population was still not covered by mobile internet in 2024. The organization also reports that the country had approximately 9,631 km of installed fiber optics, with an additional 29,000 km planned by public and private operators. In terms of international connectivity, the DRC is connected to two major submarine cables, WACS and 2Africa, according to The Submarine Cable Map platform.
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