General Technologies (GT), an Indian technology solutions provider, will invest in the DR Congo's digital infrastructure. In a press release issued on Feb 6, 2025, HT Syndication, a subsidiary of Indian media group HT Media Ltd., said GT successfully signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the project with the Congolese government.

The ambitious plan calls for a total investment of $1 billion by 2028, earmarked for constructing three state-of-the-art data centers, developing satellite infrastructure to improve connectivity in remote areas, extending 3G and 4G networks, and deploying 38,000 km of fiber optic cable

"This memorandum of understanding, exclusive to General Technologies (GT), includes an advisory position within the Ministry of Telecommunications. The Congolese government undertakes to provide visas, administrative offices, and land to enable GT to complete the projects by December 31, 2028", the press release stated

As the MoU is a preliminary agreement, definitive agreements are needed to solidify the investment framework; especially since projects sometimes remain at that stage in the DRC. However, if it goes through, the investment could "revolutionize" the DRC's underdeveloped telecoms infrastructure, as GT's promoters claim

Last year, the DRC's telecoms infrastructure index stood at 0.1591 out of 1, according to the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA). The indicator is a key component of the e-government development index (EGDI), which stood at 0.2715 out of 1. Both figures were behind the averages for Central Africa (0.3354), Africa (0.4247), and the world (0.6382), positioning the DRC at 179th out of 193 nations. 

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi

Edited in English by Ola Schad Akinocho