DR Congo Bets $400M on Satellites to Bring People Online

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is one of Africa’s biggest untapped internet markets. Despite a population of more than 105 million, only 30.5% of Congolese are online as of 2025. That means nearly 70 million people remain disconnected in a world where education, business, and even government services increasingly depend on the web.

Fixed broadband is almost nonexistent, and mobile networks provide most connectivity. But patchy coverage, unreliable service, and high costs have slowed adoption. For many rural households, simply accessing WhatsApp or browsing the news is either impossible or prohibitively expensive.

This is the gap the Congolese government is now trying to close, and it is turning to satellites to do it.

Starlink’s Turbulent Path

Starlink, Elon Musk’s satellite internet service, entered the Congolese conversation with great promise but stumbled quickly. In March 2024, the DRC government banned it outright, citing fears that unregulated satellite internet could be exploited by rebel groups.

Two months later, the ban was lifted. In May 2025, Starlink officially secured a license to operate in the country through its local subsidiary, Starlink DRC S.A.

But access remains far from universal. The hardware costs range from $205 to $389, depending on the kit, while monthly subscriptions are around $51. In a country where much of the population lives on less than $2 per day, Starlink risks being a service for businesses, NGOs, and the urban elite rather than the masses.

That’s where the $400 million deal with Monacosat enters the picture.

The $400 Million Satellite Bet

In September 2025, reports emerged that the Congolese government is backing a $400 million broadband project with Monacosat, a Monaco-based satellite operator partly owned by Turkmenistan.

The plan: build dedicated satellite capacity and ground infrastructure to extend internet access to rural areas that mobile operators have long struggled to reach. Unlike Starlink’s direct-to-consumer model, this project is positioned as national infrastructure that could be shared, subsidized, and integrated with government services.

Financing is central to the project. Fidelity Bank, one of Nigeria’s leading banks, is stepping in to mobilize funds. The bank is working with the Ministry of Digital Economy on financial structures for the deal and has announced plans to establish a subsidiary in Kinshasa. Beyond the infrastructure, Fidelity’s interest signals a push toward digital financial inclusion, ensuring that once people are online, they also have access to payment systems and banking.

Why This Matters

The potential impact is enormous. If successful, satellite broadband could:

• Expand education access through remote learning programs.

• Enable telemedicine in areas where hospitals and doctors are scarce.

• Support e-commerce and entrepreneurship, unlocking new markets for Congolese businesses.

• Boost government efficiency through digital tax systems and e-services.

• Accelerate financial inclusion, giving millions access to mobile banking and online payments.

For a country the size of Western Europe with vast, hard-to-reach rural areas, satellites may be the only realistic way to scale connectivity nationwide in the short term.

But challenges remain.

The Affordability Problem

The biggest barrier is cost. Whether it’s Starlink’s kits or Monacosat’s planned services, affordability will define adoption.

• Starlink pricing is already out of reach for most households.

• For Monacosat, details on consumer pricing haven’t been disclosed. If it comes close to Starlink’s pricing, penetration will remain low.

• Subsidy schemes, shared community hubs, or government-financed installations in schools and clinics may be necessary to expand reach.

Fidelity Bank’s involvement could help. By offering financing models, installment payments for equipment, microloans for subscription costs, or bundling internet access with digital banking,  affordability could improve. Without financial innovation, however, the digital divide could remain just as wide.

Regulation and Security

The DRC’s initial Starlink ban revealed a core tension: how to expand internet access without undermining state control. Rebels and militias operate in parts of the country, and satellite internet offers communication channels outside the government’s monitoring reach.

Licensing agreements, taxation on hardware, and the ability for authorities to monitor or restrict satellite networks will all shape rollout. Too much oversight could discourage private investment, while too little risks fueling insecurity. The balance is delicate.

Telcos in the Mix

Another key dynamic is the role of existing telecom operators. Vodacom, Orange, and Airtel dominate the mobile market in DRC. They’ve invested billions in 3G and 4G networks and are unlikely to welcome satellite competition.

Possible outcomes:

• Partnerships: Telcos could integrate satellite backhaul into their networks, improving rural coverage without laying costly fiber.

• Competition: If satellite services prove affordable and reliable, they could undercut mobile operators, especially for business and NGO clients.

• Lobbying: Telcos may push regulators to limit satellite operators’ freedom to protect market share.

How these dynamics unfold will shape whether satellite broadband becomes mainstream or remains a niche solution.

Best-Case Scenario

• Monacosat launches on schedule, with Fidelity Bank financing secured.

• Equipment and subscription models are subsidized, lowering costs for ordinary households.

• Starlink complements the effort, serving businesses and wealthier urban clients while Monacosat focuses on rural communities.

• Internet penetration doubles within five years, pushing DRC closer to regional peers like Kenya (about 43%) and South Africa (over 70%).

• Financial inclusion follows, with millions of new users accessing online banking, payments, and digital marketplaces.

Worst-Case Scenario

• Financing delays stall the $400M project.

• Starlink remains prohibitively expensive, serving only elites.

• Regulators impose heavy restrictions, slowing rollout and discouraging innovation.

• Telcos block or resist satellite partnerships.

• Internet penetration rises only marginally, leaving tens of millions disconnected.

Most Likely Scenario

The truth will likely sit between the extremes. The $400M project could deliver new capacity, but affordability and distribution will remain sticking points. Starlink will serve urban businesses and NGOs, while Monacosat’s infrastructure will require careful policy design to reach rural households.

Partnerships with telcos could be decisive. If mobile operators integrate satellite capacity, rural coverage could expand dramatically. If they resist, adoption will be slower. Fidelity Bank’s financing role could tip the balance by making equipment accessible to households and SMEs through credit.

DR Congo’s $400M satellite deal marks one of Africa’s boldest attempts to leapfrog traditional infrastructure and connect millions. With Starlink’s re-entry, Monacosat’s project, and Fidelity Bank’s financing muscle, the pieces are in place.

The question is whether execution, affordability, and regulation can align to turn ambition into reality. For now, DR Congo is betting big on satellites. The next five years will reveal whether that bet pays off.