DRCongo accuses MTN of operating in Goma and Rutshuru

The telecommunications regulator in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has accused MTN Group of operating without authorization in parts of the country’s eastern region.

In a statement, the Autorité de Régulation de la Poste et des Télécommunications du Congo (ARPTC) alleged that MTN Group has been providing mobile phone and internet services in the cities of Goma and Rutshuru without obtaining the required license.

According to ARPTC, MTN Group is currently offering telecommunications services in the two localities “without prior authorization,” a move the regulator says violates national laws governing the sector.

MTN Group operates subsidiaries in several African countries, including neighboring Rwanda and Uganda, which border the areas cited by ARPTC. The company has not yet issued a public response to the allegations.

The regulator warned that the reported activities place MTN Group at risk of legal action. ARPTC stated that it has already “filed complaints with national and international authorities” and is prepared to pursue all available legal avenues to ensure compliance with Congolese law.

The agency further emphasized its commitment to safeguarding the country’s technological sovereignty and enforcing regulatory frameworks within the telecommunications industry.