GSMA Highlights Strategies to Expand Connectivity and Reduce Digital Gaps in DRC
While the mobile sector already contributes around 8% of the country’s GDP, the report finds that targeted policy reforms could unlock much greater growth.
The GSMA has released a comprehensive study on the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) digital economy, highlighting both the opportunities and the urgent reforms required to accelerate digital transformation in one of Africa’s most resource-rich yet underserved nations.
The report, Driving Digital Transformation in the DRC: Opportunities, Policy Reforms and the Role of Mobile, underscores the central role of the mobile sector in national growth and development. With nearly 70 million mobile subscriptions recorded by mid-2025, the telecoms industry already contributes significantly to GDP and government revenues. However, mobile penetration and internet usage in the DRC remain below regional averages, with only 17 percent of the population using mobile internet in 2024.
The GSMA notes that increased adoption of digital technologies could yield dramatic economic gains. By 2029, further digitalisation could add CDF 2,100 billion to agriculture, CDF 6,500 billion to mining, and nearly CDF 1,900 billion to services, generating millions of new jobs and up to CDF 3,000 billion in additional tax revenue
Despite this potential, the sector faces multiple barriers. These include low broadband coverage (68 percent for 3G and 57 percent for 4G compared with Africa’s 95 percent average), high device costs, slow implementation of the government’s Plan National du Numérique Horizon 2025, and a complex regulatory framework that raises costs and discourages investment
The GSMA has put forward several policy recommendations, including:
- Reducing sector-specific taxes and simplifying the tax regime to encourage investment.
- Expanding access to electricity to lower the cost of operating telecom infrastructure.
- Improving transparency and regulatory stability to boost investor confidence.
- Increasing affordability of handsets through subsidies and financing schemes.
- Leveraging the Universal Service Fund to extend coverage in rural and remote areas, which has remained inactive despite years of operator contributions
The report also highlights ongoing private-sector initiatives such as Vodacom’s Moloni agritech platform, Airtel’s digital education programmes, and Africell’s digital training centres, which are helping to build local skills and foster entrepreneurship.
“The Democratic Republic of Congo has the opportunity to leapfrog into a digital-led economy. But to fully realise this potential, reforms in fiscal policy, spectrum management, and energy infrastructure must be prioritised. The mobile industry stands ready to partner with government to deliver inclusive, technology-driven growth.”
-Angela Wamola, Head of Africa, GSMA
As the country prepares for the next phase of its economic strategy under the Plan National Stratégique de Développement 2024–2028, the GSMA calls for digital transformation to be placed at the heart of national planning. With coordinated government, private sector, and international support, the DRC could bridge its connectivity gap and harness technology to drive long-term prosperity.
