The proverb « Musuminyina katu wabula »—a saying from the Luba community meaning « perseverance leads to success »—perfectly captures the determination of José Mpanda Kabangu, the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy. Since assuming office in September 2019, his vision has remained unwavering: securing a sovereign satellite for the DRC to bridge the digital divide and propel the nation into the technological vanguard.
On June 5, Minister Mpanda reinforced this ambition by welcoming a high-level Chinese delegation from China Unicom and Genew Technologies in Kinshasa. The meeting, part of a broader initiative to advance the RDC’s sovereign satellite project and expand the national fiber-optic backbone, followed his official visit to China in April. This engagement underscores the government’s commitment to fostering international partnerships that align with national development goals.
Key stakeholders from across the DRC’s technological and institutional spectrum joined the discussions, including representatives from the General Secretariat of Posts, Telecommunications and New Technologies (SG PTNTIC), the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPTC), the Congolese Fiber Company (SOCOF), the National Satellite Telecommunications Network (RENATELSAT), the National Remote Sensing Center (CNT), as well as senior advisors from the Presidency and Prime Minister’s Office specializing in digital technology.
Minister Mpanda clarified that while his April mission to China was strategic, the technical groundwork for the satellite project is being handled by specialists. The Chinese delegation, which arrived on June 8 and will stay until June 19, is collaborating with Congolese experts to finalize two critical national projects: the sovereign satellite, for which a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in April, and the upgrade of the national fiber-optic network, with revised agreements finalized in 2025.
Three core objectives of the ongoing discussions
- Technical and financial structuring: Finalizing the technical architecture of both projects, cost assessments, and securing funding modalities in coordination with the Ministry of Planning and the Ministry of Finance.
- Institutional alignment and consultation: Formal presentations by the Chinese firms to key entities, including RENATELSAT, SCPT, SOCOF, the National Cyber Defense Council (CNC), the Presidency, and the Prime Minister’s Office.
- Due diligence preparation and next steps: Defining the scope, timeline, and delegation for an upcoming due diligence mission in China, while ensuring all deliverables are prepared and subsequent phases are clearly outlined.
Minister Mpanda outlined four key outcomes he expects from these deliberations:
- Validated technical solutions for the satellite and fiber-optic projects;
- Finalized financing approaches;
- Full alignment among all stakeholders;
- A scheduled due diligence mission.
The project brings together a broad coalition of DRC institutions, including the Presidency, the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministries of Posts and Telecommunications, Planning, Finance, Infrastructure, and Mines, alongside the National Cyber Defense Council (CNC). Technical entities such as the SG PTNTIC, ARPTC, the National Digital Fund (FDSU), SOCOF, the Congolese Telecommunications Company (SCPT), RENATELSAT, and the CNT are all playing pivotal roles in ensuring the initiative’s success.
A transformative leap for the DRC
The sovereign satellite project is poised to revolutionize connectivity across the DRC’s 145 territories, reducing the urban-rural digital divide and boosting socio-economic development. Simultaneously, the fiber-optic backbone upgrade will enhance internet accessibility and reliability nationwide. Together, these initiatives represent a cornerstone of the government’s digital transformation agenda, laying the foundation for a more connected, competitive, and resilient DRC.
