DIGITAL (32)
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Visa launches Visa Pay app in Kinshasa to boost digital payments and financial inclusion
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Service supports CF and USD transactions, with low-cost bank account options for unbanked users
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Five banks onboard, with more joining soon; DRC chosen as pilot market due to high cash usage
Visa has launched its Visa Pay mobile application in Kinshasa, aiming to expand access to digital financial services in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where cash remains the dominant payment method.
Launched on September 4, the app allows users to transfer money, pay merchants, make deposits and withdrawals, and shop online using virtual cards. Transactions can be made in both Congolese francs (CF) and U.S. dollars (USD).
Sophie Kafuti, General Manager of Visa DRC, said the initiative seeks to reduce costs, improve interoperability, and support financial inclusion. “Today in the DRC, there are several fragmented payment systems. With Visa Pay, payments become secure, fast, and reliable, accessible to students and seniors alike, whether banked or unbanked,” she said.
Accessible, low-cost tool
Designed to consume little mobile data and memory, Visa Pay also allows users without a bank account to open one at low cost with partner banks. “Thanks to agreements with Visa, people can access affordable banking services,” said François Jurd De Girancourt, Visa Vice President for Strategy in Central Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
The rollout begins with five banks — Access Banque, FBN, Sofibanque, Solidaire Banque, and UBA — with BGFIBank, Equity Bank, and TMB expected to join shortly. The app is also available via partner banks’ mobile platforms and can be downloaded from the App Store and Google Play.
Pilot Phase
Visa chose the DRC as a pilot market due to its high reliance on cash. The country’s financial ecosystem, combining banks and mobile operators, was seen as favorable for building an interoperable solution.
The launch follows Visa’s expansion in the DRC since 2022, including partnerships with Vodacom — which issued 150,000 Visa cards linked to M-Pesa — and a $1 million financial education program with the Financial Inclusion Fund (FPM).
Ronsard Luabeya
A partnership with Monaco-based satellite operator Monacosat will enable the Democratic Republic of Congo to acquire a satellite for an estimated $400 million, the presidency announced after a meeting between President Félix Tshisekedi and Monacosat representative Jean-Philippe Anvam on August 30.
The investment, which amounts to nearly a quarter of the country’s 2025 budget, will be financed by a loan. Anvam stated that "a bank has already mobilized the necessary funds," though he did not name the institution.
The previous day, however, Fidelity Bank CEO Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe met with Minister of Digital Economy Augustin Kibassa and confirmed her bank’s readiness to finance the project. She announced that a joint Fidelity Bank-ministry team would be formed to define the project's parameters.
The initiative follows a memorandum of understanding signed between the Congolese government and Monacosat in November 2024. The project aims to deploy a satellite to reduce the DRC's digital divide and facilitate high-speed internet access across the country, particularly in rural and remote areas with limited telecommunications infrastructure.
The satellite is also intended to enhance cybersecurity, support distance learning, improve telemedicine, and stimulate the growth of the digital economy.
It remains to be seen whether a final agreement has been reached, as its signing is an essential prerequisite for the project to become operational.
Boaz Kabeya
Congolese fintech Maishapay has been selected as one of 12 startups for the fourth edition of Visa’s Africa Fintech Accelerator program. The cohort, running from October to December 2025, includes companies working in areas such as SME digitization, digital lending, cross-border payments, payroll management, B2B payments, AI-driven transactions, social commerce, climate insurance, and neobanking.
By joining the program, Maishapay will gain access to tailored mentorship, specialized training, networking opportunities, and direct links to investors. Since its launch, the accelerator has supported 64 fintechs from 17 African countries, with a combined portfolio value of $1.1 billion. The 12-week program is part of Visa’s $1 billion investment plan in Africa through 2027 to boost financial inclusion and strengthen the continent’s digital economy.
Founded in 2018 by Congolese IT entrepreneur Landry Ngoya, Maishapay is a blockchain-based digital wallet. It allows withdrawals, deposits, mobile payments, money transfers, and offers both checking and savings accounts. Available online and offline, it aims to provide banking alternatives for underserved and unbanked populations.
The platform now counts over 68,000 users, connects with 27 e-commerce sites, and is accepted by more than 14,000 merchants in retail, hospitality, and food services. Already active in the DRC, Congo-Brazzaville, Nigeria, Egypt, and Ethiopia, Maishapay focuses mainly on young entrepreneurs and women who are often excluded from traditional financial services.
Microlink Networks eyes key role in public digitization, data center development
Highlights:
- S.-based Microlink Networks in Kinshasa for an exploratory mission
- The company proposes to digitize public services and build data centers
- Political support acknowledged, but no formal agreement signed yet
On July 17, 2025, Augustin Kibassa Maliba, the DRC’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and the Digital Sector, welcomed a delegation from American tech company Microlink Networks in Kinshasa. The visit marks a potential turning point in the country's ambition to digitize public services and modernize its digital infrastructure.
Microlink, a U.S.-based firm known for its data center and structured cabling solutions, expressed its strong interest in becoming a strategic technology partner to the Congolese state. “We want to be a partner of choice for digitization projects in the DRC,” said Yaseen Khalid, CEO of the company. He highlighted their intention to contribute to data center construction and hosting of government information systems—both critical to the country’s digital transformation goals.
Microlink’s marketing director, Ruslan Khamidullin, commended the Minister’s openness and noted that political support has been promised to help advance discussions. Still, the talks remain exploratory, with no formal agreement signed at this stage.
The firm specializes in IT infrastructure deployment, including secure communications, IP surveillance, and turnkey digital solutions for public and private institutions. Its entry into the DRC would align with Kinshasa’s broader push to improve digital governance and public service delivery through international partnerships.
This article was initially published in French by Boaz Kabeya (intern)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
The Democratic Republic of Congo's Ministry of Sports and Leisure announced, in a communiqué published on June 19, 2025, the signing of a memorandum of understanding for a public-private partnership with Burundi’s East African General Trade Company (EAGT). This partnership aims to modernize the oversight of the gambling and sports betting sector, a rapidly expanding field in the country.
According to the Ministry, EAGT will implement a centralized digital monitoring system. This system will connect operators' platforms to transmit real-time reports to the Congolese state. The initiative seeks to bolster sector transparency, enhance tax collection (especially the 10% tax on bettors' winnings), and combat tax fraud.
While no specific timeline has been set for implementation, a pilot phase is planned for Kinshasa. An interministerial commission will rigorously supervise this pilot to ensure robust oversight by public authorities. EAGT will fully cover the project's initial funding, with repayment staggered based on generated revenues, thereby avoiding any immediate pressure on state finances.
This project is part of a broader push to regulate the sector. In 2023, during a Council of Ministers meeting, former Finance Minister Nicolas Kazadi revealed that 139 illegal operators were active in 2022, with no available data on their revenues. Tax collections that same year reached only one billion Congolese francs, a level deemed very low compared to the sector's real potential.
Faced with this situation, the government had considered creating a regulatory authority equipped with a digital tracking system. Projections at the time suggested such a reform could generate over $100 million annually (280 billion Congolese francs at the current dollar value), solely from the tax applied to bettors' stakes.
Burundi offers a successful example. In June 2024, N-Soft introduced a similar system there. According to the Director General of Burundi's National Lottery, this system led to a dramatic 552% increase in the sector's tax revenues.
On May 23, 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed a memorandum of understanding with Huawei to pilot a smart village model. The project aims to provide high-speed Internet access, digital skills training for young people, and to connect local public services such as the civil registry, health, and education. This initiative is part of the national digital transformation strategy to modernize the State and reduce digital inequalities, particularly in rural areas where Internet access remains limited.
The project aligns with broader continental efforts, supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank, to leverage digitization for sustainable development and inclusion. Mickael Lukoki Nsimba, the prime minister's chief of staff, highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring “equaldigitalopportunitiesforruralpopulationsandbuilding a modern, transparent, and connected state.”
As of the end of 2024, only 34.6% of Congolese had access to mobile Internet, and fixed Internet access was extremely limited at 0.02%, underscoring the importance and urgency of such initiatives.
Samira Njoya, We Are Tech
Airtel remained DR Congo’s top mobile service provider, by sales, last year. It was ahead of Vodacom, Orange, and Africell. According to the country’s telecom regulator, the ARPTC, the subsidiary of the Indian group Bharti Airtel generated $741 million, or 35.5% of the sector's total revenues of $2.09 billion.
Compared to 2023, Airtel’s revenues grew by 7.5%. The Congolese watchdog is attributed to an aggressive sales strategy and ongoing investment in extending its network coverage. As in 2023, Airtel outperformed its rivals: Vodacom captured 32.6% of market revenues, Orange 28.1%, and Africell 3.8%.
Total sales (incl. VAT) (voice+SMS+data+mobile money+other VAS) in dollars
Airtel's momentum is largely based on growth in data and SMS consumption, despite stable revenues from voice, a segment in which Vodacom remains dominant. Airtel remains the leader in data revenues, with $365.5 million (37.7% market share), ahead of Orange (31.5%), Vodacom (27%), and Africell (3.8%). This performance is due to the competitiveness of its packages and the extent of its 4G network.
In the mobile money segment, Vodacom remains in the lead with revenues of $168.5 million (46% market share). Airtel comes second with $137.2 million (37.5%), followed by Orange ($58.5 million, 16%). Africell, despite a 168.3% increase in revenues to $1.7 million, represents just 0.5% of the market.
Number of active cell phone subscriptions
The DRC ended 2024 with 63.96 million active subscriptions (used at least once over 90 days), up 13.7% on 2023, corresponding to almost 7.7 million new subscribers. Vodacom dominates in terms of subscriber numbers, with a 36% market share. Orange and Airtel are neck-and-neck, with 29% each. Africell closes the ranking with 6%.
This article was initially published in French by Muriel Edjo
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
The government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is looking for a service provider to deploy digital terrestrial television (DTT) in 54 towns across the country. The provider will be selected through a bidding process. This decision was ratified on May 12, 2025, during a meeting of the National Committee for Migration to DTT (CNM-TNT).
The meeting was chaired by the Minister of Communication and Media, Patrick Muyaya. It was attended by the ministers of National Defense, Justice, Planning, Budget, Industry, Telecoms, Finance, and Culture.
According to the Minister, progress has been made in the selection process for the service provider, whose identity will be revealed in the coming days. He stated that all procedures have been finalized in collaboration with the Ministry of the Budget, leading to this outcome.
"We have been able to make progress, and that in the next few days, we will have more precise elements that will enable the Congolese and all service providers in the sector to know which partner we will be working with in the rollout of digital television," said the Minister of Communication and Media.
In December 2024, the interministerial commission had opted for a restricted call for tenders to select a technical partner for the next phase of the project, which would extend DTT to an additional 46 towns. The estimated cost of that operation was around $60 million, but with the extension to 54 cities, the cost has not been disclosed.
The first phase of DTT deployment in the DRC has already been completed, with nine cities currently benefiting from the service. Launched in 2018, DTT has generated nearly $82 million in revenue for the public treasury, which the government aims to increase through the subsequent phases of the project.
This article was initially published in French by Ronsard Luabeya (intern)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
On May 8, 2025, the Ministry of Transport, Communication Routes and Opening-up issued an official letter listing 240 unapproved river and lake ports slated for immediate closure. The document, referenced N° VPM/MTVCD/CAB/563/2025 and signed by Deputy Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba, was addressed to the Ministry of the Interior, Security, Decentralization, and Customary Affairs.
The measure aligns with resolutions from the 46ᵉ and 52ᵉ meetings of the Council of Ministers held on August 28 and October 9, 2020, respectively, focusing on regulating the river sector. It also follows Ministerial Letter No. VPM/MTVCD/CAB/458/2024 dated October 15, 2024, concerning the closure of so-called "illegal" ports.
The listed sites span multiple provinces, with the document specifying the names, locations, and in some cases, the owners of the affected infrastructures.
At the 17ᵉ ordinary Council of Ministers meeting on October 11, 2024, President Félix Tshisekedi instructed the government to enhance safety in river and lake navigation after a shipwreck on Lake Kivu. He emphasized combating clandestine ports, supervising boat construction, and strengthening regular technical monitoring by Ministry of Transport experts.
Following this directive, the Ministry had already initiated an operation to close unauthorized ports in response to a series of incidents on the waterways.
Boaz Kabeya (intern)
The mobile Internet market in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) generated $970.2 million in revenue in 2024. The figure, revealed by the country’s telecom regulator, the ARPTC, accounted for 46.4% of the sector’s total sales, which reached $2.09 billion.
Mobile Internet’s contribution to operators’ revenues rose from 29% in 2022 to 27.3% in 2023 and 46.4% in 2024. Between 2023 and 2024, the revenues from the Mobile Internet segment jumped 30.3%, while the whole mobile sector recorded an 8.7% growth in revenues.
This growth is driven more by a surge in data consumption than by subscriber growth. Over one year, the number of subscribers rose by 10% to nearly 33 million, while the volume of data consumed soared by 54% to a record 1,083 billion gigabytes. For comparison, data consumption in 2024 was 2.5 times higher than in 2022 (around 486 billion gigabytes).
Kinshasa and Haut-Katanga remain the main hubs for subscriptions, but the two Kivus (North and South) are emerging as markets to watch, with 5.8 million subscribers by the end of 2024, making the region second only to Kinshasa.
Market shares among operators vary. Vodacom RDC leads in active subscribers (over 90 days) with a 37.78% share, followed by Orange (29.97%), Airtel (29.33%), and Africell (2.92%). However, Airtel dominates Internet revenues, bringing in $365.5 million (37.7%), ahead of Orange (31.5%), Vodacom (27%), and Africell (3.8%). Airtel has held this leading position since 2021.
The DRC’s mobile Internet market still has significant growth potential. The GSMA forecasts 15 million additional subscribers by 2030, underscoring the sector’s role as a key growth driver for telecom operators and justifying recent efforts to expand coverage and enhance competitiveness
This article was initially published in French by Georges Auréole Bamba
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
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Airtel Africa has signed a landmark agreement with SpaceX to bring Starlink’s high-speed satellite internet to its customers across the continent, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where Starlink just received its operating license. Airtel Africa announced the partnership via a May 5, 2025, statement.
According to Airtel DRC, the partnership aims to“connect even the most remote regions with fast, reliable, and affordable internet”by using Starlink’s network to link Airtel’s base transceiver stations (BTS)in hard-to-reach areas to its central telecom infrastructure. This move is expected to slash equipment costs compared to current VSAT technology.
"Thus, this agreement will enable Airtel to offer a higher-quality service with greater capacity than 3G or even 4G while reducing deployment costs, which should accelerate its territory coverage," our source concludes.
For Airtel DRC, this deal is a strategic play in the race for 15 million new mobile internet subscribers expected in the country by 2030, as projected by the GSMA. It also responds to recent moves by competitors Orange and Vodacom, who are expanding rural coverage through a joint venture for solar-powered mobile base stations.
Data from the Congolese telecom regulator shows that as of late 2024, Airtel had 9.66 million mobile internet subscribers in the DRC (29.33% market share), trailing Vodacom (37.78%) and Orange (29.97%), but leading in internet revenue with $365.5 million (37.7% share). The partnership gives SpaceX a chance to expand Starlink’s reach in markets previously limited by high service costs, with African packages ranging from $29 to $40 per month and equipment at $299.
Starlink’s official launch in the DRC is expected in May 2025, and its impact on Airtel’s subscriber growth and market position will be closely watched. Both companies tout the agreement as a major step toward digital inclusion, promising to transform connectivity for schools, health centers, businesses, and rural communities across Africa.
This article was initially published in French by Pierre Mukoko and Ronsard Luabeya (intern)
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho
Starlink has been allowed to operate in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). According to a press release dated May 2, 2025, the country’s telecom regulator, the ARPTC, granted an operating permit to Starlink DRC S.A., the local subsidiary of SpaceX Group's satellite Internet service provider. Starlink is Elon Musk's initiative to provide high-speed Internet access worldwide via a constellation of low-earth orbit satellites.
The firm secured the permit after regularizing its administrative situation. It can now operate in compliance with the DRC’s regulations.
The Congolese people, especially in rural and remote areas, should significantly benefit from the breakthrough. Starlink's services should come online in a few days.
Billionaire Elon Musk's company joins a Congolese market already occupied by 33 ISPs, according to ARPTC's biannual report (second half 2023) on the market observatory for the provision of Internet services. The advent of Starlink also coincides with preparations for the launch of 5G in the DRC.
The same report indicates that the DRC had over 29.9 million mobile Internet subscribers, compared with just 23,267 for fixed Internet in 2023. The penetration rate remains very low for fixed-line (0.024%), compared with 31.49% for mobile. Compared with the previous half-year, the total number of subscribers rose by 15.4%. The Internet services market generated over $599.1 million, but the revenue recovery rate for fixed Internet remains low, reaching just 48.3% among identified providers. According to the 2025 Mobile Economy report, published last March, the DRC is set to welcome 15 million new mobile Internet subscribers between 2025 and 2030.
On a mission to Washington (USA) in March 2025, Augustin Kibassa Maliba, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital (PTN), met with Starlink representatives. The meeting focused on the possibility of deploying Starlink's satellite technology to improve Internet access, particularly in rural areas where almost 70% of the population remains unconnected. At the end of the discussions, the two parties agreed to take the necessary administrative steps to launch Starlink's activities in the DRC, including drawing up specifications and obtaining operating licenses.
Ronsard Luabeya
On April 16, 2025, Orange Group laid the foundation stone for its future headquarters in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The firm thus officially kicked off the project, which it expects to be done by October 2027.
The eight-story building will cover 10,000 m² and feature an autonomous solar energy system. Located on Avenue des Huileries in Lingwala commune, opposite the Martyrs de la Pentecôte stadium, the headquarters symbolizes Orange’s deep local commitment.
“This project reflects our digital ambition and local roots,” said Orange DRC CEO Ben Cheick Haidara, highlighting confidence in the country’s economic and digital potential despite a challenging business environment.
Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs Augustin Kibassa Maliba called the headquarters “a major leap forward for the DRC’s technological development,” envisioning a modern, innovative workspace that will benefit all Congolese.
According to the Congolese telecom watchdog, ARPTC, Orange is the nation's second-largest mobile operator, with 18.5 million subscribers. It trails Vodacom's 22.5 million but is ahead of Airtel and Africell.
Global Market Share in Q2 (left) and Q3 (right) of 2024 (Source : Arptc)
With 62.2 million mobile subscribers—reaching a penetration rate of 65.8%—and 32.1 million mobile internet users (33.8% penetration), the DRC’s population of over 100 million marks a market still ripe with untapped potential.
The government’s strong push to make digital transformation a key driver of economic and social growth aligns perfectly with the opportunities Orange sees in the DRC.
The company is well-positioned to lead across multiple sectors, including the booming startup scene, digitalization of public and private services, cloud computing, data storage, and cybersecurity.
Mobile Money Market Share in Q2 (left) and Q3 (right) of 2024 (Soure: ARPTC)
Another key growth driver of Orange in the DRC is Mobile Money, with its penetration rate of 26.7%.
But realizing these ambitions depends heavily on the continuation of government reforms to boost the digital economy. Critical areas include enhancing the regulatory framework, managing frequency spectrum, expanding infrastructure, issuing new licenses, and improving access to mobile devices.
Political and security stability in the country are key to ensuring these investments’ materialization over the long term.
Muriel Edjo, We Are Tech
Genew Technologies and Zhongshi Wosen, both Chinese companies, will help the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) build its fiber optic network. The Congolese Minister of Telecoms, Augustin Maliba, signed the related memorandum of understanding(MoU) on April 7, 2025.
"With the support of the Minister and the Agency for the Steering, Coordination and Monitoring of Collaboration Agreements (APCSC), we will strive to significantly improve the telecommunications sector in the DRC," said Wu Minhua, CEO of Genew Technologies. He also noted that the DRC had been on his company’s radar for investment for several years, adding, "The time has come, that's why we're here."
While MoUs often lead to collaboration, they are not legally binding commitments. Thus, only definitive agreements will seal the partnership with Genew Technologies and Zhongshi Wosen.
Genew Technologies, founded in 2005 and headquartered in Shenzhen, specializes in end-to-end communication solutions and telecommunications infrastructure. It is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Zhongshi Wosen, on the other hand, remains less known, though it is already active in the DRC. Its president, Zhou Tiesheng, visited Central South University (CSU) in China alongside a Congolese government delegation in November 2024.
According to the Congolese Ministry of Telecom, the two Chinese companies are experienced in ICT and fiber optic communications, and have worked in markets like Angola and Mauritania.
The need for infrastructure development in the DRC is pressing. According to the Autorité de Régulation de la Poste et des Télécommunications (ARPTC), only 9,361 km of optical fiber have been deployed out of the 50,000 km outlined in the Plan National du Numérique – Horizon 2025.
This article was initially published in French by Pierre Mukoko
Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho