Telecommunications networks in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have been disrupted for several days, according to the sector regulator.

In a statement on Wednesday, Jan. 14, the Regulatory Authority of the Post and Telecommunications of Congo (ARPTC) said the problems were caused by a major technical fault on the West Africa Cable System (WACS). The international undersea fibre-optic cable system links Europe to Africa and is affecting internet services in the country.

ARPTC said repair work was under way and that operators were working to restore services as quickly as possible. It added that it was coordinating with telecom operators to put in place measures to support subscribers, in line with the applicable provisions governing force majeure situations.

The incident has revived concerns about the robustness of the DRC’s digital infrastructure, even as authorities seek to use ICT as a driver of socio-economic development. WACS is one of the main international undersea systems used to provide access to the global internet and international connectivity.

The DRC also has access to the 2Africa cable. Its landing in Muanda was reported in September 2023, with commercial service expected to begin in late 2025.

The country also relies on regional terrestrial interconnections, including a fibre link reported via Lake Albert toward Uganda, according to industry media. It is therefore possible that the DRC is also experiencing knock-on effects from the internet shutdown in Uganda, imposed on the eve of the presidential and parliamentary elections being held on Jan. 15.

Infrastructure investment

On the investment front, authorities recently announced the signing of a $150 million partnership with the investment firm United Investment LMT (UIL), based in Mauritius. The deal was presented as a way to strengthen digital infrastructure.

Publicly available information highlights investments in connectivity and infrastructure. However, accessible sources do not yet provide consistent, detailed documentation confirming the effective installation of a new international undersea cable as part of the initiative.

The episode also recalls vulnerabilities exposed during major outages affecting several undersea cables in March 2024, which caused significant disruptions across multiple African countries. At the time, analysts and industry players regularly pointed to diversification of cable routes and the use of satellite solutions among the options to improve resilience.

Satellite resilience

Satellite connectivity is one of the options frequently cited in this context. The Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA), for example, has highlighted satellite services as a complement to terrestrial networks and a potential lever to strengthen resilience.

Zimbabwe, a landlocked country with no direct access to a cable landing point, has said it is exploring partnerships with Low Earth Orbit (LEO) connectivity providers, according to public announcements relayed by local and international media. The DRC is also pursuing a telecommunications satellite project, which authorities have framed as part of a broader push for sovereignty and improved connectivity.

ARPTC’s statement follows instructions from President Felix Tshisekedi, who asked the relevant authorities to take measures to end recurring disruptions affecting telecommunications networks and systems nationwide. This included the possibility of sanctions against operators deemed to be failing to meet their obligations.

Isaac K. Kassouwi, with Ecofin Agency