Eastcastle Infrastructure's Democratic Republic of Congo subsidiary is pursuing an expansion project worth about $180 million, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) said on April 27, 2026. The IFC holds an 18.38% stake in the company.

The World Bank’s private-sector arm said the project aims to expand Eastcastle’s tower network in a country where digital infrastructure remains underdeveloped.

According to the latest data from the ARPTC, the DRC had 73.9 million active mobile subscriptions in the fourth quarter of 2025, for a population estimated at 112.2 million, equivalent to a penetration rate of 65.9%. Mobile internet generates more than 55% of total sector revenue, while mobile money penetration stood at 30.6% at the end of 2025.

To support expansion in a market where access to credit is limited, the IFC is preparing a new financing package for Eastcastle Infrastructure DRC. The package is expected to include a $30 million loan with longer maturities than typical commercial financing, along with up to $30 million mobilized from other lenders. The IFC board is scheduled to vote on the proposal on May 30.

Toward more than 1,000 towers

If approved, the financing will extend the support the IFC has already provided to Eastcastle. In 2023, the institution mobilized $60 million through a similar structure to fund the expansion of the company’s tower network in the DRC.

The new commitment reflects growing interest from international lenders in the Congolese telecommunications sector, seen as one of the most promising in Africa but still among the least developed in terms of infrastructure.

“This amount, combined with $34 million from Standard Bank of South Africa, will allow us to surpass 1,000 towers in the DRC,” said Peter Lewis, co-founder and director of Eastcastle Infrastructure Ltd., at the time.

The project’s expected outcomes have not been disclosed. However, new towers are being deployed, particularly in rural and remote areas that remain underserved by traditional infrastructure.

The DRC is a strategic market for Eastcastle. In 2023, Lewis described it as “one of the best markets in Africa,” citing strong demographic growth and a structural shortage of telecom infrastructure.

The group aims to continue expanding its network to keep pace with rising mobile usage in a country where a significant share of the population remains unconnected or poorly served. Other tower companies, including Helios Towers and Esengo Towers, are pursuing similar expansion projects.

Pierre Mukoko