Mobile network ecosystem
Since the 1980s, the innovations brought by telecommunication were numerous and mostly related to accessibility, costs and services. The constant review of the prices has favored accessibility for all Congolese to a personal cell phone. In the meantime, progressive innovations have allowed for a more than diverse use of the cell phone. Not only for calls, but also for photos, videos, storage, audio recording, Internet connection sharing with the computer, etc. Quite often, Congolese have more than one cell phone. There are some who have even four or five, or who have two or more SIM cards from the same distributor.
Along with the public administration services of the state, telecommunication companies are among the major job-seekers. And alongside extractive companies, they are also among the largest contributors to the country's fiscal resources. Faced with the decay of the social sector, they play a major role in supporting basic infrastructure and education. They bring equipment to hospitals, homes for the elderly, centres for the disabled, NGOs, schools and sometimes support promising students through scholarships. On the whole, these activities contribute to the fight against poverty and the strengthening of solidarity.
Unfortunately, most of these activities are not organised systematically and programmatically. They seem to be organised in such a way as to publicise those who do so without the involvement of the sectoral ministries. In most cases they are organised without any initial-needs surveys and without any subsequent evaluation. Most of these activities are concentrated in major cities for publicity reasons. However, it is important to note that some of these activities have indeed strengthened the capacities of some private schools, notably by providing students with access to tablets as teaching and class work materials.