In a decisive move to address ongoing telecommunications disruptions, the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Council of Ministers has directed authorities to enforce penalties on mobile and fixed-line operators failing to meet established service quality standards. 

During the January 9 meeting, President Félix Tshisekedi emphasized the importance of strict compliance with laws and regulations, urging the sector’s oversight bodies to take necessary measures against operators that violate quality, coverage, and user protection obligations.

The government’s focus comes amid widespread network issues affecting internet access, voice calls, data transmission, digital broadcasting, and interconnection services. These persistent failures have severely impacted citizens’ daily lives, disrupted public services, hampered economic activities like banking and commerce, and degraded digital radio and television broadcasts. A detailed report on the situation is expected within 30 days, with a plan for intensified regulatory oversight and monitoring.

Previously, in December, the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, José Mpanda Kabangu, summoned operators Orange, Airtel, and Vodacom following complaints from users about unstable networks, dropped calls, and limited internet, especially in Sankuru province. The minister had also identified nationwide issues earlier in September, including frequent outages, network congestion, unjustified credit losses, and failed mobile money transactions—despite users being billed for services they did not receive.

The government’s crackdown aligns with its broader strategy to leverage digital technologies for socio-economic development. Reliable, resilient, and high-quality networks are seen as vital for citizens to access online public services and participate fully in the digital economy. Although specific sanctions have not been detailed, the 2020 Telecommunications and ICT Law stipulates fines of up to one-quarter of the license fee for violations that do not result in license suspension or withdrawal.

As the authorities prepare to implement stricter enforcement, the telecom sector faces increased pressure to improve network stability, ensure fair competition, and expand coverage across the country, ultimately supporting national development goals and safeguarding consumer interests. African Wireless Communications