Increased Internet Shutdowns in the Democratic Republic of Congo: What Solutions for Consumers?
Consumers of telecommunications services in the Democratic Republic of Congo currently encounter many problems related to the quality of the Internet. Indeed, in recent days, many cuts and slowdowns have been observed, impacting not only Central Africa, but also South Africa.
In an official press release, the Regulatory Authority of the Post and Telecommunications of Congo (ARPTC) provided explanations on these dysfunctions. According to the ARPTC, these cuts are due to landslides which led to the collapse of several optical fiber cables, in particular the West Africa System, South Africa Transit 3 and Africa Coast to Europe cables, at the level of the Congo maritime canyon. .
Faced with this situation, the ARPTC wishes to reassure consumers by affirming that telecommunications operators have backup connections, such as the SNEL East-West Backbone, in order to maintain a minimum service. In addition, vessels specializing in the maintenance of optical cables are being deployed to carry out the necessary repairs and restore service as quickly as possible.
The ARPTC also wishes to emphasize its commitment to supporting operators to ensure that consumer interests are optimally taken care of. It ensures to follow the situation closely and to take all the necessary measures to solve these connectivity problems.
This situation highlights the critical importance of a strong and resilient telecommunications infrastructure. Internet shutdowns have a direct impact on consumers’ daily activities, be it work, education, communication or leisure. It is therefore essential that the competent authorities and operators work together to strengthen the infrastructure and offer effective backup solutions in the event of an incident.
In conclusion, the problems of Internet shutdowns in the Democratic Republic of Congo underline the importance of having reliable and robust connectivity. It is essential that authorities and operators work together to resolve these difficulties and guarantee quality Internet access for all consumers