“Musuminyina katu wabula”—this Luba proverb, which teaches that perseverance eventually leads to success, perfectly encapsulates the mindset of Me José Mpanda Kabangu. The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications is resolute in his mission to achieve a goal he has pursued since his time at the Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovation in 2019: providing the RDC with its own sovereign satellite.
In a decisive move to advance this national ambition, Minister José Mpanda Kabangu hosted a delegation from China Unicom and Genew Technologies on Friday, June 5. The discussions centered on the technical construction of the satellite and the expansion of the fiber optic network across the RDC. This meeting follows a strategic mission the Minister conducted in Chine this past April.
The high-level audience brought together key technical and political stakeholders, including experts from the General Secretariat of PTNTIC, the Regulatory Authority for Post and Telecommunications of Congo (ARPTC), the Congolese Fiber Society (SOCOF), the National Satellite Telecommunications Network (RENATELSAT), and the National Remote Sensing Center (CNT). Senior advisors from both the Presidency of the Republic and the Prime Minister’s office were also in attendance.
Minister José Mpanda emphasized that while his initial visit to Chine was political in nature, the project now requires rigorous technical scrutiny. To this end, representatives from the two Chinese firms will remain in Kinshasa until June 19 to collaborate with Congolese experts. Their work focuses on two structural pillars: the sovereign satellite, for which a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed in April, and the national fiber optic backbone, following the 2025 revision of existing agreements.
Strategic objectives of the Kinshasa meetings
The working sessions, which commenced on Monday, June 8, are designed to achieve three primary goals:
1. Technical and Financial Structuring
Experts are working to validate the technical architecture of both the satellite and fiber projects, estimate total costs, and establish financing frameworks in coordination with the Ministries of Planning and Finance.
2. Institutional Alignment
The Chinese firms are formally presenting their proposals to all involved parties, ensuring that RENATELSAT, SCPT, SOCOF, CNC, CNT, and regulatory bodies are fully synchronized with the project’s trajectory.
3. Preparation for Due Diligence
This phase involves defining the scope and timeline for an upcoming mission to Chine, identifying the Congolese delegates, and selecting the sites for inspection.
Minister José Mpanda expects four specific outcomes from these deliberations: validated technical solutions, a finalized financing strategy, total alignment among institutional stakeholders, and a comprehensive plan for the due diligence mission.
A broad spectrum of Congolese institutions is mobilized for this initiative, including the Presidency, the Prime Minister’s office, and the Ministries of Postes et télécommunications, Plan, Finances, Infrastructures, and Mines. Technical execution is being spearheaded by the CNC, ARPTC, FDSU, and several other specialized state agencies.
