Article: Increase in the number of telecommunications subscribers in the Democratic Republic of Congo in the first quarter of 2023.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) recorded a significant increase in the number of telecommunications subscribers during the first quarter of the year 2023. According to a report published by the Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Congo ( ARPTC), the number of mobile phone subscribers increased from 49.8 million to 53.6 million, an increase of 7.69%. This growth is accompanied by a mobile penetration rate of around 56.38%.
This increase in the number of subscribers demonstrates the continued growth of the telecommunications sector in the DRC. With a population of over 80 million, the country offers a potentially lucrative market for telecommunications operators.
However, despite this growth in subscriptions, the first quarter of 2023 was also marked by a drop in traffic on voice services and SMS services, respectively in the order of 6.13% and 0.87% . Moreover, the average time of use of the telephone per minute/subscriber/month (MoU) saw a drop of 12.83%.
An exception to this trend was observed in mobile Internet traffic, which recorded an increase of 5.7%. This results in an increase in the volume of data exchanged, from 142.115 billion to 150.222 billion megabytes.
This growth in mobile Internet traffic reflects the changing consumption habits of Congolese users, who are increasingly connected and dependent on online services. The reasons for this increase could be multiple, such as the rise of social networks, the growing popularity of streaming services or the expansion of online activities, particularly in the field of e-commerce.
In conclusion, the DRC is experiencing a notable increase in the number of mobile telecommunications subscribers in the first quarter of 2023. However, despite this increase, certain categories of services, such as voice and SMS, are experiencing a drop in traffic, while the ‘mobile Internet continues to progress. This evolution testifies to the changes in consumption habits and underlines the growing importance of the Internet in the daily life of the Congolese. Telecommunications operators will therefore have to adapt to these new needs to remain competitive on the Congolese market