DRC and Gabon sign landmark free roaming agreement under Smart Africa initiative
Date: 2026-02-23
By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The
Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon have signed a historic free roaming
agreement aimed at enhancing seamless cross-border connectivity in Central
Africa, Smart Africa announced. The agreement, facilitated under the Smart
Africa Alliance, forms part of the continent-wide digital transformation agenda
led by Dr. Ralph Oyini Mbouna, Director of Digital Transformation and Services.
In
parallel, discussions with the DRC’s Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and
Digital focused on positioning the country as a continental leader in digital
innovation, including the identification of a national flagship initiative.
Smart
Africa also contributed to regional guidelines for regulating non-geostationary
satellite communications and participated in a high-level panel on modern
satellite regulation, emphasizing the importance of innovation, sovereignty,
and fair competition across Africa’s digital landscape.
