Telecom companies operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo have called on authorities to support long-term improvements to network infrastructure, arguing that persistent service disruptions stem not only from internal shortcomings but also from broader structural challenges.
In a joint statement relayed last week by the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Affairs, the operators said they were ready to work with the government on short-, medium- and long-term solutions that are expected to be presented soon.
The companies said the deterioration in service quality cannot be attributed solely to problems within their own networks. They pointed to several external constraints that continue to affect sector performance despite ongoing investment efforts.
Among the challenges cited were unstable electricity supply, repeated fiber-optic cable cuts, destruction of infrastructure, insecurity along several road corridors, limited spectrum availability and underdeveloped infrastructure. According to the operators, these constraints are complicating technical teams’ access to telecom sites and hindering network maintenance operations.
The statement comes as Congolese authorities intensify pressure on telecom companies over service quality. During a cabinet meeting in January, President Felix Tshisekedi ordered that sanctions against operators failing to meet obligations related to quality of service, continuity, coverage and consumer protection be enforced “firmly and without leniency.”
The president also called for stronger regulation, tighter oversight and permanent network monitoring mechanisms amid persistent consumer complaints over dropped calls, slow mobile internet connections and unstable services.
High Energy Costs
The concerns raised by operators echo findings published by the GSMA, the global mobile industry association. In a report released in September 2025 on the DRC’s digital economy, the organization said the country’s telecom infrastructure remains heavily dependent on diesel-powered generators.
According to the GSMA, a large proportion of telecom sites are not connected to the national electricity grid, a situation expected to worsen as network coverage expands into rural and remote areas. The organization estimates that operators already spend between 40% and 60% of their operating costs on purchasing and transporting diesel to power antennas and technical equipment.
These expenses weigh heavily on operators’ finances, undermine service continuity and may ultimately be passed on to consumers.
The GSMA also described the Congolese telecom market as particularly costly to operate in, citing tax pressure, regulatory and administrative hurdles affecting infrastructure deployment, as well as high maintenance and energy costs.
For now, authorities are holding telecom operators chiefly responsible for service quality. The 2020 law on telecommunications and information and communication technologies provides for financial penalties in cases where operators fail to comply with obligations set out in their licenses and technical specifications.
The law states that “any violation of one or more clauses of the license, the authorization or the technical specifications attached thereto that does not result in the suspension or withdrawal of the license shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding one quarter of the price of the license.”
With the measures announced by operators still pending, the dispute is increasingly centered on accountability. Authorities are demanding immediate improvements in service quality, while telecom companies argue that sustainable network upgrades will also require greater public investment in electricity supply, security and national infrastructure.
Pierre Mukoko
