COUNTRY FOCUS : DRC
Strategic geo-location drivin centre and fibre investment
The country ’ s geo-location and size is attracting investments in data centre and network fibre .
According to the World Bank Group , Democratic Republic of Congo , DRC , about the size of Western Europe , is the largest country in Sub-Saharan Africa and the fourth most populous on the continent . DRC is endowed with exceptional natural resources , including minerals such as cobalt and copper , hydropower potential , significant arable land , immense biodiversity , and the world ’ s second-largest rainforest .
After peaking at 8.9 % in 2022 , real GDP growth in the DRC remained robust at 8.4 % in 2023 , supported by a strong mining sector , which grew by 18.2 % contributing over 70 % to overall growth in 2023 . GDP growth is expected to moderate to 4.9 % in 2024 and to stabilise around 4.8 % over 2025 – 26 , owing to the mining sector ’ s deceleration .
The geographic location of DRC as it straddles countries located on both the East and West coast of Africa has meant that many of data centres that are planned for Sub Saharan Africa as well as fibre network , need to be either based in DRC or need to traverse through DRC .
Fibre connectivity
In June 2023 , Liquid Dataport , launched its newest fibre route connecting Mombasa , Kenya , to Muanda on the west coast of the Democratic Republic of Congo . This is the shortest route connecting East to West Africa , reducing data transmission latency by 20 milliseconds . The much anticipated 3,800km route marks a new era in East-West connectivity on the continent , adding to Liquid ’ s One Africa Digital Network , which now spans 110,000 km .
The fibre route connects Kenya and DRC , passing through Uganda and Rwanda and bringing reliable and affordable broadband connectivity to over 40
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