The Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon have just concluded a memorandum of understanding on roaming, on the occasion of the 10th ordinary session of the Conference of Regulators of the Regulatory Authority for Post and Telecommunications of Congo (ARTPC).
According to Christian Katende, Executive Chairman of ARTPC, the agreement reflects the shared commitment of both countries to facilitate citizens’ mobility, reduce communication costs, and strengthen interconnection between their populations. It is part of the broader initiative to establish a community roaming framework within the sub-region.
The protocol was signed between ARTPC and Gabon’s Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications, Posts and Press Distribution (ARCEP).
Data roaming allows users to use their mobile phones (calls, SMS, and internet) abroad or outside their operator’s coverage area by connecting to a local partner operator’s network without changing their phone number. This mechanism ensures service continuity.
In terms of frequency coordination, the two countries have also strengthened their collaboration to ensure harmonized spectrum management in border areas, a key condition for guaranteeing network quality and stability.
This 10th ordinary session also marks an important step in the institutional consolidation of the organization, with the adoption of revised statutes and new framework documents aimed at improving governance, cohesion, and the operational efficiency of ARTPC.
