{"id":8639,"date":"2025-11-07T19:10:38","date_gmt":"2025-11-07T18:10:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/squire-technologies.co.uk\/blog\/?p=8639"},"modified":"2026-06-18T11:20:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-18T10:20:56","slug":"africell-goes-live-with-enhanced-mobile-connectivity-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/squire-technologies.co.uk\/blog\/africell-goes-live-with-enhanced-mobile-connectivity-in-the-democratic-republic-of-the-congo","title":{"rendered":"Africell goes live with enhanced mobile connectivity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Africell goes live with enhanced mobile connectivity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/h2>\n

\"NetEngage<\/p>\n

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In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africell is enhancing its network and unlocking opportunities for citizens.<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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Africell is enhancing connectivity in the DRC to unlock more mobile offers for citizens and boost socio-economic opportunities. To do so, the operator selected the power partnership of NetEngage and Squire Technologies.<\/p>\n

Together, the companies have successfully delivered similar projects across Africa. The project is not just enhancing connectivity; it\u2019s making the network future-ready, able to capitalise on new technologies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Africell \u2013 A pan-African success story<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/h3>\n
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Across the region, Africell is delivering business solutions and investing in cultural and societal projects. In 2021, Africell sponsored the inaugural Congo River Marathon and partnered with the National Museum of the DRC to invest in African Arts and Culture. In recent years, Africell has also rolled out RCS to enable secure, branded business messaging.<\/p>\n

The pan-African mobile network operator is focusing on delivering positive outcomes for customers. Their provision of affordable, accessible, and excellent telecom products and services is supporting better socio-economic outcomes in countries where they operate. The challenge is considerable in the DRC, one of the world\u2019s poorest nations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Africell<\/p>\n

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Smartphones and economics in the DRC<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/h1>\n

\"Mining<\/p>\n

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Mining in Mudere mine under control of Nyatura militia, town of Rubaya, North Kivu region (Democratic Republic of Congo, Africa.<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n
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Astonishingly, the DRC supplies over 40% of the tantalum needed to produce smartphones. Yet, mobile phones are expensive in the DRC. On average, 29.49% of a person\u2019s income goes on their phone, compared to 5.3% in the rest of the world.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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DRC\u2019s digital transformation is accelerating, helping to grow the economy and improve lives. The government plans to extend mobile internet from 32.2% as of June 2025 to 90% of households by 2050. Despite obstacles, such as conflicts and political events, and thanks to Africell and like-minded businesses, progress is still being made.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"Internet<\/p>\n

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Connectivity challenges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/h3>\n
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Colonial powers introduced the first telecommunication services in the DRC, primarily to support administrative activities. In 1960, colonisation ended, and high costs, conflicts, and bureaucratic problems hampered traditional telecommunication infrastructure deployments. <\/p>\n

Logistics also proved difficult. Until the early 2000s, calls from Kinshasa to Brazzaville, the capitals of the DRC and the Republic of Congo, were routed through Paris and Brussels. However, the capitals are only across the Congo River from each other.<\/p>\n

These problems spurred mobile adoption. Thus, countries like the DRC could potentially accelerate connectivity faster than some developed nations.<\/p>\n

Entrenched legacy telecommunications infrastructure has slowed digital transformation in some European nations. The DRC\u2019s mobile-first mentality could be a strategic benefit, as businesses and citizens are more ready to embrace change.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Enhancing connectivity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo<\/b><\/h3>\n<\/h3>\n
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Africell has gone live with a combined NetEngage online charging system (OCS) and a Squire Technologies\u2019 Interworking Function (IWF)<\/a>. Africell\u2019s project enhances connectivity, avoids huge network overhaul costs, and leverages legacy infrastructure.<\/p>\n

The OCS\u2019s up-to-date rating and charging support next-generation voice, SMS, and data demands. Using the OCS, Africell can leverage differential tariff capabilities, optimising its core networks, releasing untapped revenues, and giving customers cost-effective access to services they love.<\/p>\n

Squire Technologies\u2019 IWF translates and converts between multiple standards and protocols, creating a future-proof, flexible network structure. The IWF\u2019s forward-and-backwards compatibility works with NetEngage\u2019s OCS to seamlessly converge Africell\u2019s multigeneration network.<\/p>\n

Together, the IWF and OCS utilise existing infrastructure, letting Africell reach more customers at a lower cost. Effectively, more citizens will benefit from improved access to education, healthcare, job opportunities, government services, and digital financial services, and additional contract options.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"antennas
\n\"Karel<\/p>\n

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“We\u2019re thrilled to be working with Africell and Squire Technologies again and bringing change to the lives of people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.”<\/p>\n

Karel van der Lecq, Head of Sales at NetEngage.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Ben<\/p>\n

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\u201cOnly 0.032% of internet connections are via landline in the DRC. So, mobile connectivity is essential for people to get access to the opportunities that can change their lives. We\u2019re proud to play a small role in the vital digital transformation that Africell is doing to improve people\u2019s lives throughout Africa\u201d.<\/p>\n

Ben Teversham, Business Manager at Squire Technologies.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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To find out more about NetEngage, visit\u00a0www.netengage.com<\/a><\/p>\n

To learn more about Squire Technologies, visit www.squire-technologies.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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References<\/b><\/h4>\n<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/articles\/cn01k8948v1o<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.trade.gov\/country-commercial-guides\/democratic-republic-congo-telecommunications<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/engelsbergideas.com\/notebook\/a-tale-of-two-congos\/<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.worlddata.info\/africa\/congo-kinshasa\/telecommunication.php<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A State of the art Unified Signalling Platform<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Sigla brings a homogenous layer to the management and operation of multi-generation networks, freeing operators from the burden of managing multiple core networks, and reducing network complexity and operating costs.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n