African regulators enhance telecommunications oversight in Gabon and DRC

African regulators in Gabon and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are intensifying efforts to monitor and improve telecommunications service quality following frequent consumer complaints regarding network stability, internet connectivity, and call quality.

In Gabon, the Electronic Communications and Post Regulatory Authority (ARCEP) has introduced several tools to enhance oversight. These include the reactivation of the 1331 short code for consumer guidance, the ‘DQoS Gabon’ application for reporting network incidents, and a dedicated email address. ARCEP aims to combine technical measurements with direct user feedback to ensure operators meet regulatory standards.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Post and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (ARPTC) has acquired new technical equipment to measure operator performance more precisely. Minister of Posts and Telecommunications José Mpanda Kabangu inspected the installations, which allow for real-time monitoring of telecommunications flows and frequency spectrum management. This new capability is intended to provide objective data to verify service delivery and facilitate documented sanctions when operators fail to meet their contractual obligations.