However, this measure does not apply to Congolese startups: they are completely exempt from payment. A new regulatory and financial framework is being established for other market participants.
The scope of the new regulation extends far beyond the physical borders of the DRC. The text refers both to companies located within the country and to individuals and legal entities conducting activities or providing digital services «from or towards» the DRC. In other words, a foreign company also falls under the scope of these regulations as soon as it begins to offer its services on the Congolese market. Thus, the new digital regulation has a cross‑border character and reflects the specifics of a sector that is increasingly less dependent on state borders.
This international dimension is further clarified by another important detail: the tariffs are stated in US dollars, but they must be paid in Congolese francs at the official exchange rate in effect on the payment date.
The new taxes and fees are not limited to a single segment but cover a significant part of the Congolese digital ecosystem, most of whose participants are now under the regulator’s control: data centers (DCs), cloud services, web hosting, trusted digital services, social networks, streaming platforms, search engines, fintech, marketplaces, transport services, and booking systems.
In a number of segments, the document clearly distinguishes between local operators and foreign competitors. Thus, in the hosting sector, the cost of obtaining a permit is $2,000 for a local provider and $10,000 for a foreign operator.
For managed hosting, as well as for critical applications, the amount increases to $5,000 and $15,000, respectively. A similar approach applies to cloud computing: local players need to obtain a permit for $5,000, while foreign operators must pay $15,000.
Search services, indexing, and digital aggregation are regulated under the same tariff scheme.
Social media, streaming, and marketplaces: platforms that shape users’ daily digital habits are also not outside the regulatory framework. Social media, user‑generated content services, streaming platforms, and live broadcasts require a permit costing $5,000 for local players and $15,000 for foreign ones.
Intermediary platforms fall under a separate tariff schedule. Whether it’s transport, travel, tourist accommodation, marketplaces, or app stores, the permit cost is $3,000 for local operators and $10,000 for foreign ones. This makes it possible to include both traditional platforms and new digital intermediary services within a single regulatory framework.
Up to $100,000 for some data centres. The highest amounts are provided for the infrastructure that underpins the digital economy. Ownership and operation of data centers are subject to a progressive approval tax, the amount of which depends on the level of infrastructure: $25,000 for Tier‑I, $50,000 for Tier‑II, $75,000 for Tier‑III, and up to $100,000 for Tier‑IV.
Thus, the higher the level of the data center, the greater the financial burden associated with its approval. For the relevant operators, these amounts may become a key factor in making decisions about investments and the placement of digital infrastructure in DRCs.
E‑learning, e‑healthcare, and energy: key services are also affected. In addition to major technology platforms, the new tariff grid also applies to a number of digital services that are considered vital. The threshold has been set at $2,000 for e‑learning, $3,000 for e‑healthcare, and $3,000 for e‑transport, while the energy and water supply sectors are subject to a fee of $5,000 each.
The fiscal mechanism also affects qualified trusted digital services: electronic signature, electronic seal, time stamps, certification, authentication, and electronic archive. Here, the tariff depends on the operator’s origin: $30,000 for foreign players versus $10,000 for local ones.
Special tariffs for non‑dominant players: the differences between operator categories also take into account their market position. A separate tariff schedule is provided for players that do not hold a dominant position.
In cloud technologies, for example, approval costs $2,500 for local operators and $10,000 for foreign ones. Search and aggregation services, as well as platforms for communication and digital exchange, also fall under tariffs ranging from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the operator’s origin. This logic naturally leads to another sector where regulatory and trust issues are particularly sensitive — digital financial services.
Fintech is facing a new regulatory equation: the digital finance sector, of course, has not been left out of the new regulatory model. Online banks, fintech apps, and other digital financial platforms must now undergo an approval procedure with a cost of $3,000. In addition, a fee of $10,000 is being introduced for declaring the provision of unqualified trusted services. This creates additional regulatory costs for market participants even at the stage of entering the market.
Extending the declaration will cost 100% of the initial fee, and making changes to the declaration incurs a payment of 25% of its value. A late or incomplete declaration entails a fine of 25% of the amounts due.
If the declaration is not submitted at all, the fine increases to 50%. A false declaration is punishable by a fine of 75%, and a repeat violation may increase the sanction to 100% of the payments due.
Operating without permission or approval also carries extremely high fines for operators. Providing unauthorized digital services may result in a penalty ranging from 100% to 200% of the cost of the permit. The same amount applies to the operation or provision of unapproved digital services.
A new equation for the Congolese digital economy: with the adoption of this regulation, permission, declaration, and approval become mandatory financial parameters for many digital operators in the DRC.
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