Recent data published by the Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPTC) demonstrate a spectacular evolution in the use of mobile Internet in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Indeed, the report reveals a significant increase of 40% in the number of subscribers, going from 20.7 million in the 3rd quarter of 2020 to 28.9 million in the same quarter in 2023.
This rapid growth of mobile Internet in the country is partly explained by the strong demand for digital connectivity, particularly for access to social networks. Data consumption has also grown exponentially, with traffic increasing from 43.3 billion megabytes to 182.2 billion megabytes during the same period. The average usage per subscriber per month increased from 751.95 MB to 2,028.97 MB.
It is interesting to note that the mobile Internet penetration rate in the DRC, although constantly increasing, still remains below the African average which was 40% in 2022 according to the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). This observation highlights the importance of implementing initiatives aimed at generalizing access to mobile Internet to the entire population, in a context of growing digital transformation.
The rapid development of mobile Internet in the DRC opens up new perspectives for the development of the country’s digital economy. Seizing these opportunities is essential to drive digital inclusion, encourage innovation and support the growth of sectors such as e-commerce, digital financial services and distance education.
Therefore, it is crucial that the authorities continue to invest in telecommunications infrastructure, promote digital education and encourage the emergence of technological start-ups to fully exploit the potential offered by the mobile Internet in DRC. This transition to an information and digital society represents a major challenge for the country and opens the way to a connected, dynamic and prosperous future for all Congolese citizens.