This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.
Last Published: 7/20/2017

Overview

The DRC is an untapped market with great potential for mobile telephony; Internet services providers, and other Internet Communication Technology (ICT) firms.  Mobile telephony has a 44 percent penetration rate; Internet penetration is approximately 3 percent of the total population.  Hampered by poor physical infrastructure, particularly last mile infrastructure, mobile telephony has grown to fill the role traditionally filled by land based telecommunications firms.  Less than one (1) percent of Internet connections in the country are land line connections, making the country’s mobile telephone operators de facto Internet service providers for private and commercial uses.

Progress made in the ICT sector is constrained by the GDRC’s poor grasp of ICT issues at high echelons of government.  In January 2015, the GDRC ordered a shutdown of the Internet in response to anti-government protests.  In May 2016, the GDRC raised taxes on mobile communications companies from two (2) percent of revenues to three (3) percent. This, combined with other regulatory costs, prompted telecommunications companies to raise Internet prices, putting connectivity further out of reach for many Congolese.


Leading Sub-Sectors

  • Internet distribution
  • Mobile applications
  • Telecom equipment supply
  • Telecom software and new technology
  • Cybersecurity
  • Data centers & data management


Opportunities

The DRC presents opportunities for American ICT firms to develop and market applications for mobile telephone users, to partner with local telecommunications ventures to expand their networks, and to offer cybersecurity services to businesses operating in the DRC.  Due to poor institutional knowledge, the GDRC has relied heavily on international ICT firms to implement records digitalization and management projects.  In 2015, Régie de distribution d’eau (REGIDESO), the parastatal water distribution completed a data center designed to improve billing and payment for water services, relying heavily on American firms to execute the undertaking.
 

Web Resources

DRC Chamber of Commerce
Congo Business
Global Trade Atlas
ANAPI
ARMP
Single-Window for Business Creation
USAID
UNDP
IMF

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