Telecommunication power operator Helios Towers has invested in upgrading and building backbone sites covering 1800km in DRC Congo hence improving mobile infrastructure and connectivity in an estimated 6 million citizens in the country.
The project which is due for completion in December will provide infrastructure for increased 3G capacity and launch 4G in Kisangani, DRC’s third largest city, and launch 3G in Northern Kasai.
“DRC has one of the lowest mobile penetration rates in the world, with only around 25% of its 85 million population having a phone today, but it is growing incredibly fast.” says Kash Pandya, CEO of Helios Towers.
The backbone networks currently runs through multiple areas of DRC connects major towns and cities to voice and data technologies, transmitting signals through microwave from tower to tower up to 40km apart.
Mobile subscriptions are expected to grow at 14% CAGR, with a three-fold increase in smartphone usage, according to GSMA Intelligence. Annual GDP growth in DRC was 6% for the period 2011 to 2017 and is forecast to continue to 2022 at 4% per year, driving disposable income and consumer spending.
Helios Towers Africa ltd owns and operates telecommunications towers and passive infrastructure in Tanzania, DRC Congo, Congo Brazzaville and Ghana. It provides renting space on the towers to mobile network operators and other telecommunications providers who in turn offers voice and data services primarily to end-end consumers and businesses.
