The Regulatory Authority for Posts and Electronic Communications (ARPCE) has informed the public of widespread disruptions affecting voice, internet and mobile money services across the Republic of Congo.
According to the ARPCE this week, the disruptions stem from severe energy supply difficulties that have affected both the primary power grid and emergency backup systems.
Telecommunications infrastructure, including relay antennas, data centres and core network equipment, requires uninterrupted electricity to remain operational. Recent regulatory checks revealed that operators are receiving an average of only nine hours of electricity from the grid per day.
Although backup batteries provide an additional six hours of power, they cannot bridge the remaining gap because of an acute shortage of diesel needed to run heavy-duty backup generators.
GSMA data indicates that fuel accounts for between 30% and 60% of operational expenses for sub-Saharan African mobile operators, with diesel-generated power costing three to four times more than grid electricity.
This is despite the Republic of Congo producing approximately 300 000 barrels of crude oil per day. The country remains vulnerable because of its heavy reliance on imported refined petroleum, according to industry analysis.
The regulator said infrastructure manager Helios Towers requires approximately 100 000 litres of diesel per week to power generators serving its 550 relay antennas nationwide.
“Based on these statistics, widespread power outages and difficulties in obtaining diesel fuel are severely disrupting the operation of technical sites, network cores, and data centres. This, in turn, is causing a cascading shutdown of rural infrastructure, which is dependent on central equipment located in major cities,” said the ARPCE in a statement.
Users are experiencing complete service outages and severely degraded connectivity, including dropped calls and slower internet speeds.
In response, the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and the digital Economy has alerted the Prime Minister's Office, while the ARPCE is working with the National Petroleum Company of Congo to secure priority fuel allocations for telecommunications infrastructure.
Although the government has launched emergency interventions to address the fuel shortages, officials warn that service disruptions will persist until the broader energy situation normalises.
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