The government of Congo Brazzaville has set aside FCFA2.2-bn to bolster telecommunications services to rural areas.

The government of Congo has earmarked FCFA2.2-billion to develop telecommunication services in rural areas this year.

This is about 75% of the budget of almost FCFA3-billion adopted by the committee overseeing the fund for access and universal service in electronic communications in March 2020.

The committee, chaired by the country’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Digital Economy, Léon Juste Ibombo, validated the document of strategic orientations for the development of universal access and service of electronic communications for the period 2020-2025.

The fund will be used to promote access within rural and underserviced communities, to support basic electronic communications services (voice and data) and services requiring broadband, as well as to encourage the development of new services and create local content and specific applications promoting digital inclusion.

Yves Castanou, Director General of the Agency for the Regulation of Posts and Electronic Communications (ARPCE) said: “Through the Fund for Access and Universal Service in Electronic Communications, the government of Congo wants to promote a policy of inclusion for the benefit of rural, isolated communities and other disadvantaged sections of the population so that they benefit from the economic and social opportunities offered by electronic communications.”

The government of Congo Brazzaville is looking to improve the telecommunications industry has been making efforts to improve its telecoms sector and expand access to the internet.

In 2019, it tapped China Communications Services Corporation Limited to expand the country’s internet capacities with submarine cables. It is also connected to regional cable connections.