Congo Edges Towards Finishing Its Groundbreaking National Data Center, Plans for Release in November 2025
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is set to take a significant step towards digital transformation and technological sovereignty with the construction of a state-of-the-art National Data Center. Scheduled for completion by November 2025, the data center is expected to be a game-changer for the country's digital economy and its integration into the global digital landscape.
Digital Transformation
The data center will underpin digital infrastructure essential for the DRC's transition into a digital economy. Advanced services such as the national digital ID system (DRCPass), which uses blockchain to replace physical IDs, will be facilitated by this infrastructure. This will improve governance, security, and financial inclusion, setting the stage for efficient digital services critical to modern governance and economic activities.
Technological Sovereignty
By hosting its own data center, the DRC aims to reduce its dependence on foreign data infrastructure and cloud services, thereby advancing digital sovereignty. This strategic move will keep data within national borders and under national control, addressing the current limited data center capacity in Africa (less than 2% of global capacity). The local data center will reduce reliance on data centers located abroad, enhancing control over digital assets and security.
Global Digital Economy
The DRC's data center is foundational for tapping into Africa’s growing digital economy, projected to grow substantially by 2025 and beyond. Local data centers are critical infrastructure components, akin to ports or railways during the industrial revolution, enabling participation in cloud computing, AI, blockchain, and fintech ecosystems. The DRC’s data center will help the country capitalize on this growth, improving connectivity, facilitating investment, and linking with regional and global supply chains.
The data center is being launched in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and is a key pillar of the Central African digital ecosystem. Once operational, the data center will eliminate the need for foreign server reliance, supporting the Central African Backbone project, offering capacity and interconnection options for neighboring countries.
Economic Impact
The National Data Center is anticipated to support startups, attract investment, and create skilled tech jobs in Congo, symbolizing the country's digital readiness to the international community. The primary goal of investing in this data center is to assert greater control over data, ensure security, and participate more fully in the global digital economy. With the development of this center, Congo joins a growing list of African nations investing in homegrown digital infrastructure.
The data center, located in Brazzaville's second arrondissement, is more than 90% complete, and its inauguration is scheduled for November 28, coinciding with President Denis Sassou N'Guesso's State of the Nation address. Léon Juste Ibombo, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and the Digital Economy, DRC, has stated that the data center will play a catalytic role in shaping Congo's digital economy. The first National Data Center in the DRC is poised to set a new benchmark for Central Africa, marking a significant step towards the country's digital future.
[1] AfDB. (2021). DR Congo to Launch First National Data Center.
[2] World Bank. (2020). Digital Economy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
[5] UNCTAD. (2020). Digital Economy Report 2020: From Hype to Reality: Digitalization, Development and the Future of Work.
- The National Data Center in the DRC, upon completion in November 2025, will bolster cybersecurity measures, as it will host and manage critical digital data, thereby increasing the country's technological sovereignty.
- With the advent of the data center, startups and tech-oriented businesses in the DRC can benefit from improved technology infrastructure, facilitating their integration into the global digital economy and contributing to financial inclusion.
- Through the launch of the data center, the DRC aims to foster partnerships with regional and global entities, enabling the country to leverage technology trends such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and blockchain in its economic development.
