The country’s Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy has played a pivotal role, streamlining licensing processes for operators to establish and operate advanced mobile networks. The initiative is part of the country’s broader national strategy to enhance its digital infrastructure and drive innovation, entrepreneurship and diversified economic growth. 

Congo’s Digital Future Unveiled

According to Telecommunications Minister Léon Juste Ibombo, the Congo aims to become a leading player in information and communication technologies. This focus reflects the need to modernize the Congolese economy and bridge the digital divide across the country, and is evidenced by the national development strategy for the digital economy, known as Congo Digital 2025. Developed in partnership with global institutions, the strategy is based on three key pillars: digital services and content for the public, digital governance and ICT-driven development for private businesses. 

In June 2023, the European Union, European Investment Bank and the World Bank launched the Digital Transformation Acceleration Project, providing funding and support for modernizing the Congolese public administration and improving digital skills. The €136.5 million initiative focuses on expanding internet access and enhancing digital public services. As part of the project, in August 2024, the Brazzaville Chamber of Commerce opened a digital skills training center, featuring a dedicated space for senior executives and a specialized room for cybersecurity training. 

Enhancing Connectivity through Infrastructure

To advance its digital ambitions, the government has launched several major infrastructure projects designed to enhance connectivity. In February 2024, fiber optic connectivity was brought online through the 2Africa Cable project, which aims to establish the world's largest submarine fiber optic cable, linking Africa to Europe and the Middle East. Multimodal logistics company AGL facilitated the logistics for successful installation of the cables in Congolese territorial waters in September 2023, ensuring the infrastructure was in place ahead of the official commissioning. Led by a consortium of technology companies spearheaded by global tech company META, the 2Africa Cable project seeks to ensure reliable, high-speed internet access for three billion people across Africa, Asia and Europe. 

By August 2024, nearly 300 Wi-Fi access points were installed in Pointe-Noire and Brazzaville, providing free or low-cost internet access beyond the first 15 minutes. These initiatives are anticipated to increase internet users in the Congo from 2.24 million, representing a penetration rate of 36.2%, to 62.48% by the end of 2024. Furthermore, estimates indicate that 4G coverage in the Congo will reach 100% by 2024, while 3G coverage is expected to hit 98.85%.

Beyond internet access, the RoC is advancing its technological ambitions with the construction of a $72.8 million data center, set for completion in December 2024. This three-story facility – the first of its kind in Central Africa – will serve as a hub for storing and processing the country's digital data. Funded by the African Development Bank, the project will lay 600 km of fiber optic cable to enhance connectivity with neighboring countries. By establishing this center, the Congo aims to enhance its digital sovereignty and enable the secure storage of sensitive data, ultimately transforming into a regional tech hub.

Emerging Tech Hubs

In line with its commitment to universal internet access and digital transformation, the Congo is set to launch a digital skills incubator by the end of 2024. Developed in partnership with the World Bank, this initiative will provide young people with free high-speed internet access and comprehensive training opportunities. The Congo’s energy sector has also become a catalyst for fostering tech innovation. French major TotalEnergies launched its own incubator in 2019, supporting seven digital startups that integrate energy and technology. Projects like AndrewTek, which focuses on energy optimization in buildings, and GazTech, offering smart metering for LPG access, highlight the potential to support energy sector growth through digitalization.