DRC: four subsidized operators to expand mobile coverage in 40 localities

The USDF signed, on Saturday, agreements with four telecommunications operators as part of this first series of deployments. The amount of subsidies and the identity of the affected localities have not been disclosed in the available information.

The program targets areas where access to mobile services remains limited, as several million Congolese are still believed to live outside network coverage. The objective is to concentrate investments in rural and peri-urban areas identified as priorities, where operators have fewer economic incentives to independently finance new infrastructure.

The mechanism relies on public funding for part of the deployment costs. It is designed to enable selected operators to install or expand their equipment in localities where commercial viability is insufficient, but where communication needs and access to digital services are significant.

The timeline for the work, the specific obligations imposed on operators, and the methods for monitoring compliance with commitments still need to be clarified. The available information also does not allow for determining whether the subsidies cover only mobile telephony infrastructure or also data services.

This operation represents the announced first step of the universal connectivity program in the DRC. Other localities might be included in later phases, depending on the priorities set by the authorities and the available resources of the USDF.