Can you briefly introduce the company’s presence here in DRC?

Vodacom is majority owned by Vodafone (64.5% holding), one of the world’s largest communications companies by revenue, and Vodacom Congo is a subsidiary of Vodacom Group, a leading African communications company providing a wide range of services, including mobile and fixed voice, messaging, data, financial, Enterprise IT and converged services to over 103 million customers. Vodacom started operating in the DRC in 2002 as a joint venture that is majority owned (51%) by Vodacom Congo and Congolese Wireless Networks (CWN) hold a 49% stake. Today, Vodacom Congo is an established operator with a 15-year track-record of providing quality communication services in the country. We are the leading mobile operator in the DRC in terms of market share and subscribers; customer market share stands at 30.6%, our broadband (mobile internet) market share stands at 46.3%, and we are the undisputed mobile money service provider with a customer market share of 58%.

Can you elaborate on why telecommunications is an important part of the mining value chain in the DRC?

As a leader in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Vodacom collaborates with the mining sector to provide communication services and identify solutions in response to some of the challenges faced by our clients in the mining industry. The link between the country’s infrastructure and its ability to benefit from the exploitation of natural resources is quite clear. However, the link between mining and the telecommunications sector has not yet been widely discussed despite the fact that connectivity is so critical to a modern mining operation. Additionally, telecommunication is the second largest contributor to the country’s GDP, and therefore plays a significant role in driving the economy of this country. When the copper price dropped between 2015 and 2016, telecommunication even surpassed mining as the most important sector. It is important not only to consider how our sector interlinks with mining, but also how both mining and telecom both promote sustainable socioeconomic growth in the DRC.

What critical services does Vodacom offer to the mining sector?

In line with the speed of global innovation, Vodacom invests relentlessly to enable companies and organizations operating in the DRC, among other things, to remain competitive and improve their performance according to international standards. The mining industry is one of the most complex and competitive industrial sectors in the world. Depending on the mineral, the production chain typically consists of raw minerals’ extraction, enrichment and concentration, smelting and refining, product marketing and brokering, and product manufacturing. At all levels of the production channel and, particularly at the research, extraction and processing levels, the industry is highly dependent on connectivity and optimal data management. We offer services and products that improve the connectivity of the mines, however, our capability is beyond fixed and mobile services. For instance, “Vodacom Business Solutions" is a platform dedicated to supporting the mining sector’s ICT needs through a portfolio of technologies to achieve better productivity and safety, as well as reduce the operational costs for a mine sites. For example, Vodacom provides the latest satellite link optimization technology to facilitate access to high-speed Internet through VSAT, which  is part of the redundancy strategy to ensure 100% of data availability to mining companies as well as a critical mechanism for information exchange between operating sites, particularly for those located in uncovered areas.

Beyond its support of the mines, how can Vodacom assist the rest of the mining value chain?

The opportunity to partner with the entire value chain is massive; there are more than a hundred companies that are part of the mining ecosystem. Several mining companies, from exploration to mining, have either subsidiary companies or subcontractors and other suppliers that are part of the ecosystem - in areas as diverse as transport, maintenance, safety, catering, etc. Vodacom provides connectivity, management and control solutions that span the entire operational spectrum of this value chain and is ready to collaborate and partner. For example, our car tracking solution allows for optimal fleet management and several possibilities of control including the location of the vehicle, the geolocation of the vehicle on the mobile phone, control and speed limitation, monitoring of consumption, reception of detailed reports, immobilization of the vehicle in case of loss, etc. and Vodacom is working with partners on video streaming solutions.

Can you highlight a specific service that supports the exploration sector?

To support exploration phases, Vodacom accompanies teams’ deployment by linking their quarries to her network by building quick to assemble Rural Coverage Sites to enable voice communication and critical data transmission. As the flow of information increases, Vodacom invests on upgraded 2G sites, depending on the capacity. To date, these connectivity capabilities have allowed the deployment of thousands of tailored sites across the country.

How does Vodacom help its international clients stay connected to stakeholders outside of the country?

Multinational companies deployed locally want constant connectivity to their headquarters, usually located abroad, at all times. Doing this via satellite connectivity is a costly effort. Our MPLS platform allows the exchange of information with all mining companies’ branches and points of presence nationally and internationally. Vodacom is the first telecom operator to offer an MPLS link to connect different offices across multiple continents. Additionally, the PABX connection minimizes communication expense by enabling calls between different local offices, from different points of exploitation or exploration to the offices.

Can you provide a final message about the vision Vodacom has for its evolving role in the DRC mining industry?

As the leading communications company in the country, Vodacom Congo embraces the responsibility that comes with market leadership and playing its part in ensuring that mobile communication technologies contribute to economic and social development, evidenced by our investments into our network, dedication to our employees, and commitment to delivering innovative products. Additionally, we provide tailored solutions for corporate/enterprise customers to help them work smarter. It is our firm belief that the future of the mining sector and its continued impact on our economy stands to benefit from strategic partnerships with innovative and committed partners like Vodacom