Paratus Group announced in mid-April 2026 that it had appointed Gaëtan Soltesz as chief executive of FAST Congo, its subsidiary in the Democratic Republic of Congo, as the wholesale connectivity provider seeks to accelerate the monetization of its fiber optic infrastructure.

“The appointment of Gaëtan Soltesz reflects Paratus Group’s ambition to drive commercial growth, expand nationwide fiber coverage and position FAST Congo as a leading wholesale connectivity player in Central Africa,” the group said.

In his new role, Soltesz will focus on strengthening partnerships linked to national fiber infrastructure and accelerating the monetization of existing backbone assets. “By working closely with public and private sector stakeholders, we can unlock greater value from existing infrastructure while supporting national digital transformation ambitions,” he said.

Before joining FAST Congo, Soltesz spent five years leading Silicone Connect. He previously worked at Cisco for 17 years, where he was involved in projects related to internet services, content delivery and network infrastructure for major telecom operators. His experience aligns closely with FAST Congo’s current priorities: monetizing existing capacity and strengthening the network’s integration into the regional ecosystem.

Core infrastructure

FAST Congo’s main asset is its fiber optic link between Muanda and Kinshasa. Commissioned in 2024, the 620-kilometer line connects submarine cable landing points on the Congolese coast to the capital, with services designed to serve operators, internet service providers and carriers.

Using that network, FAST Congo has already signed a capacity agreement with Groupe Vivendi Africa (GVA), giving the company access to scalable bandwidth and facilities run by FAST Congo. The deal aims to strengthen GVA’s broadband offering in the DRC.

Paratus is also expanding its regional footprint. In February 2026, the group announced the commissioning of a fiber link connecting Mombasa to Goma via a secured terrestrial network, aimed at improving interconnection between East Africa and eastern DRC. The extension reinforces FAST Congo’s positioning in regional and international connectivity.

Ronsard Luabeya