On an official stay in the United States as part of the 78th United Nations General Assembly, President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi recently met Nicholas Clegg, president of Meta Platforms Inc, an American company specializing in social networks such as Facebook, Whatsapp, Messenger and Instagram.
During their meeting, Nicholas Clegg presented to President Tshisekedi the positive impacts of the arrival of the “2 Africa” cable in Moanda, in the Kongo-Central province. This new internet connection should help bridge the digital divide in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and allow citizens to more easily access different technologies.
President Tshisekedi expressed his wish to see Meta Platforms Inc become more involved in the DRC by supporting the country’s services and entities in mastering and accessing technologies, particularly in the run-up to the elections. This collaboration could help strengthen the digital domain of the DRC which still has low internet penetration among the population.
Meta Platforms Inc, formerly known as Facebook, has revolutionized social interactions since its founding in 2004. Its applications such as Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp have enabled more than 3 billion people around the world to share their ideas and help each other. In addition, the company is also exploring the possibilities offered by virtual and augmented reality, thus opening new perspectives in the field of social technologies.
The DRC, for its part, could leverage this collaboration with Meta Platforms Inc to boost its digital domain and reduce the digital divide that still exists in the country. In 2022, the internet penetration rate in the DRC was estimated at only 17.6% of the population, which shows the importance of putting in place initiatives to improve internet access for all citizens.
The official laying of the “2 Africa” cable in Moanda by the 2Africa consortium, made up of 6 telecommunications operators, marks an important step in the development of digital infrastructure in the DRC. This progress will improve connectivity and offer new opportunities to Congolese citizens.
In conclusion, the collaboration between President Tshisekedi and Meta Platforms Inc opens new perspectives for the development of the digital domain in the DRC. By harnessing the benefits of cutting-edge technologies, the DRC can reduce the digital divide and allow all citizens to benefit from the opportunities offered by internet access.