The Democratic Republic of Congo is developing a national strategy to expand mobile and broadband connectivity in underserved rural and peri-urban communities.
About 4.3 million people across nearly 3,000 localities remain without mobile coverage, according to a Universal Service Development Fund assessment.
The assessment, published August 7, highlights stark regional disparities as authorities seek to extend digital services beyond major urban centres.
Nationwide, 2G coverage reaches 77%, while 3G and 4G coverage stand at 68% and 57%, respectively.
Kinshasa has the highest coverage at about 98%, while Tshuapa records just 14%, with Kwango and Sud-Ubangi reaching 28%.
The FDSU plans to prioritise investment according to coverage gaps, population, economic activity, infrastructure and geographical conditions.
Officials have identified the Lobito Corridor, National Corridor and Peace Corridor as key routes for connectivity investment.
The strategy also promotes passive infrastructure sharing through TowerCos, potentially lowering deployment costs and freeing operators to expand services.
Mobile internet penetration reached 32.95% in 2025, although significant differences persist between provinces, particularly in rural areas.
Affordability remains another barrier, with a 5GB mobile data package costing about 18.8% of gross national income per capita.
Mobile money adoption also varies sharply, reaching 85.3% in Haut-Katanga but only 4.7% in Bas-Uele, underscoring the digital divide.
The country’s vast territory, limited electricity access and fragmented infrastructure continue to make network expansion costly and difficult.
The proposed strategy aims to bridge these gaps by directing investment toward communities where connectivity can deliver the greatest social and economic benefits.
Ultimately, authorities hope expanded mobile broadband will narrow the digital divide and bring essential digital services within reach of underserved communities.