Vodacom and Orange have announced a strategic partnership to extend mobile services to some of the most remote areas of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In a joint statement, the telecom giants unveiled their ambitious plan to deploy solar-powered base stations to enhance connectivity in the DRC, a country that is twice the size of South Africa and predominantly covered by tropical rainforest.
The initiative will target rural regions where mobile service is currently almost non-existent. The primary objective is to provide telecom and mobile financial services to up to 19 million people living in these underserved areas. To achieve this, Vodacom and Orange plan to construct 2,000 solar-powered base stations over the next six years, utilizing 2G and 4G technology.
The first phase of the project, which includes the approval of the initial 1,000 sites, is set to commence construction in 2025. If the initial phase is successful, an additional 1,000 stations could be built. However, the progression of the project is contingent upon receiving approval from regulators and competition authorities.
Both companies have committed to using the infrastructure as “anchor tenants” for a minimum of 20 years. Additionally, they are inviting other mobile operators to share the towers, which would facilitate broader coverage and benefit even more people.
Currently, mobile Internet penetration in the DRC stands at just 32.3%, highlighting a significant digital divide that this partnership aims to address. If successful, this project could be a major step towards bridging the digital gap in one of Africa’s most underserved countries, bringing essential connectivity and financial services to millions.
