Investigations to determine the causes of the recent deterioration in internet service quality are scheduled to begin on Feb. 3, 2026, DRC ’s Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPTC) said in a statement released on Jan. 31.

The operations follow a major technical fault that affected the West Africa Cable System (WACS), an international subsea fibre-optic link, in January. The regulator said work will be carried out in Muanda, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and in Pointe-Noire, in the Republic of Congo, with the aim of restoring internet services to normal.

ARPTC warned that the operations could lead to further temporary disruptions. It added, however, that the operators involved have implemented redundancy measures to reduce the impact on service continuity.

The regulator said it is closely monitoring the progress of the work and committed to keeping users informed in a timely manner of any steps that may be required depending on developments.

During a Council of Ministers meeting on Jan. 9, 2026, President Felix Tshisekedi instructed the relevant authorities to take the necessary measures to contain recurring disruptions affecting telecommunications networks and systems nationwide.

The malfunctions have affected mobile and fixed-line telephony, internet access, data transmission, digital services, network interconnection, as well as radio broadcasting and digital television.

The head of state also called for stronger regulation, oversight and permanent monitoring mechanisms for network and service quality. He further urged effective coordination between sector ministries, regulatory authorities and specialised technical services.

Ronsard Luabeya