Facing the rise of digital usage and the need to reduce the digital divide, the Democratic Republic of the Congo is strengthening its telecom infrastructure capacities through a new investment. The idea is to support the rapid growth of connectivity demand and extend access to digital services, especially in areas that are still underserved.
It is in this dynamic that Helios Towers DRC and the National Agency for Investment Promotion (ANAPI) signed an investment agreement on April 1, 2026, worth up to $110 million. This agreement marks progress in the development of the telecommunications sector in the DRC, by supporting the expansion of mobile networks and improving service quality for operators.
Present in the country since 2011, Helios Towers DRC currently operates nearly 2,800 telecom sites, including around 760 in rural areas, covering nearly 37 million people. Thanks to this new partnership, the company plans to accelerate the deployment of new infrastructure, both in urban and rural areas, while enhancing the energy and operational resilience of its installations, a crucial factor in sometimes challenging environments.
Beyond network expansion, the agreement also includes a significant focus on developing local skills and promoting sustainable energy solutions, particularly to power telecom sites. This approach aligns with a logic of inclusive growth, integrating social, economic, and environmental issues.
Furthermore, this investment comes in a continental context marked by a structural deficit in digital infrastructure. According to the International Telecommunication Union, only 34% of Africans had access to the Internet in 2023, compared to 66% globally. Additionally, nearly 45% of the continent’s population lives more than 10 kilometers away from a fiber optic network, according to the World Bank, highlighting persistent challenges in accessing quality connectivity, especially in rural areas.
In this context, strengthening telecom infrastructure appears as a key lever for economic transformation. At the African level, over $62 billion in investments are expected by 2030 to support the deployment of fiber, 4G/5G, and tower densification. In the DRC, the initiative led by Helios Towers and ANAPI fully aligns with this dynamic, with the ambition to boost the country’s competitiveness and foster the emergence of a sustainable digital ecosystem.
As an independent actor in telecom infrastructure, Helios Towers currently operates nearly 15,000 sites in nine African and Middle Eastern countries.
