Computer class: teaching the next generation. Photos Provided to China Daily

With strong technologies, including broadband and 3G, Congo shows off its good connections

Congo has made great strides in the area of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) since the armed conflict in the country ended in 1997.

It enjoys a relatively sophisticated and well-regulated telecommunications network, with strong and legitimate competition in place between the four main operators: Airtel, MTN, Warid and Azur, which has seen prices more than halve since 2008.

Mobile phone penetration is now at 90 percent and the ICT sector is modernizing at a rapid pace.

President Denis Sassou N'Guesso's administration is keen for the country to become an ICT hub for the region, and as such, has implemented far-reaching changes to bring the country up to world-class standards.

To improve connectivity, the World Bank has assured the financing and interconnection of fiber optic cables regionally and inter-regionally to connect Congo to its neighbors. This, the administration's largest project to date, has been made possible thanks to the technological back up of the Chinese Huawei Technologies and Alcatel Shangha Bell.

Working jointly with the World Bank, the republic has invested heavily in the Central Africa Backbone, which, at a cost of $55 million, will link up every part of the country, and ultimately connect Congo to its border neighbors, and the rest of the continent.

"The urban networks in Brazzaville and Pointe Noire are already 70 percent connected," says Minister of Post, Telecommunications and Technologies, Thierry Moungalla.

"We hope to commercialize the network by the end of 2012 and provide it to the whole population by 2015."

Innovation nation

Congo is something of an ICT pioneer. As Minister Moungalla pointed out, it was the first country in Central Africa to implement the 3rd-Generation network.

"By 2015, every service provider will give up the second generation to switch entirely to 3G, which will become the basic standard," Moungalla said.

"There is an urgent need now to develop 3G-related technologies and other services. Azur, for example, is offering a Triple Play service that combines the Internet, TV and mobile phone."

Moungalla is determined to secure Congo's smooth entrance into the Information Society, and has earmarked the installment of a fast, reliable and cost-effective Internet connection as an immediate priority. This will eventually lead to universal access for the existing online administration system/e-government project.

"A reliable Internet connection will provide a faster and more efficient service for citizens, as for someone living in an isolated zone in the country, it can require a few days of travel to get a birth certificate or any official document from the civil state," Moungalla said.

"Another positive impact to this will be the safety of the national archives, which are currently still kept on hard copies and thus subject to deterioration."

The minister is overseeing a strategy to encourage the digital economy, in the provision of e-government, e-commerce, e-learning and e-health. "To ensure a safe and reliable system, we are working with international partners Microsoft for the software and Ericsson for the training," Moungalla said.

"The sector is booming and offering many investment opportunities. Return on investments for incoming telecommunications service providers are guaranteed in Congo."

Ericsson partners Congo

Present in 52 African countries, ICT giant Ericsson started its operations in Congo in 2006 through a partnership with South Africa's MTN.

At the time, MTN set up the Ericsson Network, installing the Swedish company's equipment within its own system.

Neels Van Niekerk, program and country manager, who has been overseeing operations at Ericsson Congo since that time, said:

"Our main activity is serving our current customers: MTN, Airtel and Azur. Our priority is keeping our business partners happy and expanding in terms of network capacity and coverage within the region. Current network expansion and improving capacity are our priorities.

"The training initiative that we proposed to the government in the technology sector is to help establish technical training facilities. The idea is to support the government in the training of students in this field. We cann't deny the fact it has been quite difficult to find trained people here, especially technicians in the telecoms industry.

"Even though people have basic schooling there is a huge skills gap to address. Congolese people are generally literate and fast learners, but we need to establish the infrastructure that will allow them to learn. There is a huge need for technical training, especially within our operations."

Being an English-speaking company in a Francophone country also presents its challenges.

"It becomes more difficult outside the main city and we are trying to appoint French employees to make it easier," Van Niekerk said. "Language can be a barrier, but there are always ways around it."

A hub for the region

With its unique geographical location and the current Inter cabling to Pointe Noire through the Central African Backbone, the telecoms chief believes Congo is on the right track in its mission to become a regional hub.

"Communications have improved significantly over the last five years; the quality is better and the general environment has improved. I have had a very positive experience working here," Van Niekerk said. "I am South African, so I appreciate the safety aspect, and I can wholeheartedly invite anyone interested in joining us; it is a very pleasant experience.

"I am sure that by 2015, there will be a big difference in the level of technology and skilled people. It will obviously continue beyond that."

Postal services

The government has also been busy setting up a State postal network. A new postal distribution center was opened in October 2011, which marked a real step forward for a country where private carriers have been the preferred-and in some cases, the only option.

"This inauguration was a major event and is very symbolic," Minister Moungalla said.

Companies and individuals can benefit from postal boxes now that mail is distributed. Furthermore, the Postal Bank, another of the Ministry's priorities, will be service imminently. The government is keen to facilitate credit access and a partnership with the Central Bank has been finalized in order to offer secured financial transactions.

"In fact, the postal system is rising from the ashes. The PIDEP (Programme d'Intgration et de Dveloppement du Peuple Pygme) program, which encourages the integration of pygmies into the community, in partnership with the UN, will bring financial commitments in order to develop post offices across the country, especially in rural zones.

"The government is keen to rebuild a social link with its people through the postal service."

InFocus provided the story

(China Daily 06/29/2012 page7)