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\u2013 The vision of digital technology, a strategic component of development\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
![\"27157776613_52a9415f09_c\"](\"https:\/\/rdc.yearbook-media.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/thumbs\/27157776613_52a9415f09_c-e1719520637110-r3clzqikyfsu5y07zzeaktgcuvn334a69mbqsb9t22.jpg\" "\\"27157776613_52a9415f09_c\\"")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\tSince 2019, the government has considered digital technology a strategic component of its development. The country, which needs 50,000 km of fiber optic cable to achieve full digitalization, is investing in digital inclusion and economic growth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t With a low rate of internet penetration, the DRC is still lagging behind in terms of access to very high-speed digital infrastructure, while digitalization is becoming essential for every area of life. <\/p>\n After laying 2,500 km of fiber optic cable in the west of the country, Liquid Intelligent Technologies, a subsidiary of the Zimbabwean group Econet Wireless, is deploying a new 4,000 km network between the south-central and eastern parts of the DRC. With these two lines, the DRC becomes the 14th member country of the "One Africa" network, which totals more than 73,000 km of fiber optic cable. The municipalities of Limete, Gombe, and Ngaliema are already connected to the fiber optic network.<\/p>\n The areas concerned are connected using fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) technology, making it possible to bring connectivity to individuals as well as businesses. <\/p>\n The Congolese Fiber Optic Company (SOCOF SA) inaugurated a 620-kilometer network between Moanda in Kongo Central province and the capital Kinshasa on August 23, 2021. The result of collaboration between the government of the Republic and the World Bank within the framework of the CAB5 project (Central African Backbone Project), this network was built by a South Korean company on axis 1 Moanda-Kinshasa, passing over the railway right-of-way of the SCTP from the central station to Matadi.<\/p>\n In March 2022, Fiber Access Service Technology Congo (Fast-Congo) was awarded the concession contract for the operation and maintenance of the Kinshasa-Muanda fiber optic network belonging to the Congolese Fiber Optic Company (SOCOF). Valid for 15 years, the agreement stipulates that Fast-Congo will install its transmission equipment along the Kinshasa-Muanda axis to provide wholesale internet services to telecommunications operators. It will also be responsible for repairing any damage that could hinder the operation of the high-speed telecommunications infrastructure.<\/p>\n The operation of this network should provide surplus capacity to satisfy a greater number of consumers and allow them to benefit from the socio-economic advantages of broadband at affordable costs, thus helping to reduce the digital divide in the country.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t \t\t The contract awarded to Fast Congo came approximately two weeks after the government adopted a concession model for managing the fiber optic section. This option guarantees international expertise for marketing the telecom infrastructure's capacity, as well as for troubleshooting in the event of an incident.<\/span><\/p>\n In late June 2021, the Egyptian company Benya Capital began work on laying several thousand kilometers of fiber optic cable across the country. According to the contract with the Congolese Post and Telecommunications Company (SCPT), 16,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable are to be deployed nationwide.<\/p>\n CSquared, a pan-African company specializing in the operation of digital infrastructures, with a planned budget of $100 million, also intends to invest in the DRC.<\/p>\n At the institutional level, SCPT has three data centers directly connected to the national fiber optic backbone in Moanda, Kinshasa, and Lubumbashi. Private operators also have data centers in Kinshasa, primarily for their internal use in managing their infrastructure and services. The Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and New Information and Communication Technologies (PTNTIC) will soon launch calls for tenders for the construction of a national data center.<\/p>\n