Can you introduce Vodacom Congo (Vodacom) and the firm’s footprint in the DRC?  

Vodacom is a technology company with more than 21 million customers. A key player in the telecom industry, Vodacom is connecting the unconnected across the Democratic Republic of Congo. To date, its 2G coverage represents 58% of the population and its 3G coverage stands at 38% of national territory. The company is accelerating the expansion of its 4G coverage, which now accounts for 34% of national coverage. Its M-Pesa Mobile Money platform now has over 6 million active subscribers in the DRC.  

Can you present Vodacom’s advanced technological offerings, and how these are used by the mining industry?

It caters to mining businesses by meeting their exact needs, with all available technologies, fixed broadband connectivity (fiber and mobile), cloud and hosting, advanced solutions such as SMS, USSD & IoT and of course M-Pesa- the financial inclusion service par excellence in a country where banking penetration is less than 10%. Our transition from being a telecommunication company to a full technology company is not just a narrative, but a catalyst for the development of key sectors, including the mining sector in the DRC. In this context, we are accelerating the deployment of 4G to support the Internet of Things (IoT) and encourage the adoption of AI. What is more, we are providing open application programming interfaces (Open APIs) to local developers who want to work with us to create the inclusive, digital DRC we all want. With 5G on the way, we will be providing the infrastructure needed to deploy more innovate products, services and infrastructures that will revolutionize and dramatically increase capacity, opening a world of new possibilities for the DRC's mining sector.

What benefits does the Umoja (in partnership with Glencore and Standard Bank) service bring to mining operations? 

UMOJA is an EES (Employee Engagement Service) by Vodacom Business, designed to strengthen employee commitment to their mining employer, enabling mine workers to receive essential real-time messages and updates on their mobile phones. UMOJA platform provides employees with a company mobile phone, free data, solar charger, and real-time updates. 

What are the main trends driving the adoption of “connect” solutions by mines in the DRC?

Technology is driving efficiency, decarbonization, and profitability in the mining industries through digital transformation. For the past years, Vodacom has been driving “Connect” solutions for the mining sector in the DRC. These solutions have been mostly centered around improving efficiency, by giving liaison solutions. Vodacom is committed to promoting a sustainable economy for the sectors contributing to the DRC economy, particularly the mining sector. Therefore, as it upgrades its technology, especially in working thoroughly to lower its carbon footprint, Vodacom has made sure to abide by international requirements for a sustainable business and at the same time contributes to the fight against climate change.

How do you view the challenges and opportunities in the DRC for network providers?

The country has been facing significant challenges in operating in several sectors, including energy and telecommunications. Vodacom is converting the energy challenge into an opportunity by embarking on an energy transition journey as we are accelerating our green energy roadmap. To transform the lives of rural communities, Vodacom RDC launched new sites in 2013, called Rural Coverage Sites (RCS), which allow residents to access full telecommunication services including the Internet, with a zero-carbon footprint. Today there are almost 900 RCS powered by photovoltaic panels and batteries. 

We have also installed high-capacity batteries at several sites, allowing us to use less generators. We have digitalized several of our procedures, which has allowed us to optimize our logistics while reducing our environmental impact. We are also developing projects that will allow us to migrate towards electrical solutions in the future. We want to reach the zero carbon level by 2030, and we are working on our ISO 50.001 certification to achieve this objective.

Despite challenges, the DRC presents significant opportunities for network providers due to its large population and growing demand for telecommunications services. Serving even the most remote areas through state-of-the-art technology, Vodacom is working to reduce the infrastructure gap by connecting towns and villages. Improving Infrastructure by upgrading the existing telecommunications infrastructure is also crucial to enhance network reliability and capacity. 

What will be Vodacom’s strategy to keep growing in the DRC and remain a leading digital mining solutions provider?

We are accelerating the deployment of 4G to support the IoT and encourage the adoption of AI. What is more important, we are providing Open APIs to local developers who want to co-create with us the digital and inclusive DRC we all want. 5G is on its way; it will provide the infrastructure needed to deploy the full range of innovations planned, dramatically increasing capacity, and opening a world of new possibilities for the DRC's mining sector. Vodacom is proud to contribute to the development of a digital ecosystem in the DRC through strategic partnerships.