Helios Towers to invest $110m in DR Congo amid internet usage and smartphone boom

Tower infrastructure company Helios Towers is betting $110 million on DR Congo, forming part of an investment strategy to intensify the country’s infrastructure amid rapid digital adoption.

Specifically, the deal comes amid the country’s recent boom in the telecoms industry, powered by increased smartphone adoption and market competition.

With the fund, Helios Towers will be expanding its infrastructure and network coverage in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), aiming to improve access to telecoms services, particularly in rural and underserved areas.

DR Congo’s internet boom and Helios Towers bet

According to the Regulatory Authority for Post and Telecommunications of Congo (ARPTC), mobile penetration rose from 56.7% to nearly 62% in Q2 2025. The increase of about 9% saw the number of active subscriptions surge to 69.4 million.

Data revenue surged to $307 million in Q2 2025, capturing 54% of the market. The result doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, DR Congo stood at an active mobile internet user base of 34.5 million, representing a penetration rate of nearly 31%, reflecting the endless demand for bandwidth. 

With the advancement in online access, the volume of data consumed has surged by almost 27%, placing significant pressure on existing infrastructure and calling for an upgrade. 

An internet user

Helios Towers is leading that push in a market that is considered one of the most attractive growth opportunities across its nine markets. Chief Executive Officer, Tom Greenwood, noted that while the growth is active in DR Congo, about 40 million people still lack mobile coverage. 

The deal, under an agreement signed between the National Investment Promotion Agency (ANAPI) and Helios Towers DRC, will see the expansion span across 23 provinces. This includes Kinshasa, Haut-Katanga, Kongo Central, Maniema, Ituri, Kasai Central, Kasai Oriental, Nord-Kivu, Sud-Kivu, Lualaba, Tanganyika, Equateur, Haut-Uele and Kasai.

Helios Towers operates nearly 15,000 telecommunication tower sites across nine high-growth markets in Africa and the Middle East, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as one of its leading markets.  Others are Tanzania, Ghana, Congo Brazzaville, South Africa, Senegal, Madagascar, Malawi and Oman.

Helios Towers

Also Read: AI investments key to sustaining Africa’s telecoms growth – Cassava Tech.

Africa’s landing spot

Africa is gradually getting to a point where staying online is as important as getting home, driving the conversation on accessibility and affordability. 

The transition witnessed in the digital economy; fintechs, mobile money and other innovations, is significantly increasing internet penetration, powered by increased smartphone adoption and more time spent on apps and social media.

Data from Statista reveals that as of October 2025, Africa hosts over 570 million online users. The digital boom is credited with reshaping the continent’s economy and setting a new global technological image. Africa’s total online population is projected to soar past 1.1 billion by 2029

As more people gain access to phones and tap into the internet, the reality dawns that Africa’s vast population is making a statement: the growth is rapidly expanding, and Africa needs to upgrade its infrastructure to accommodate the increasing digital coverage. 

Helios Towers $100 investment in the DR Condo represents a fraction of this push. African data consumption is projected to increase by four times the present level in the next five years. And the tower infrastructure company is aware of this fact.

“Demand for ‌data and connectivity across Africa ⁠and the Middle East remains exceptionally strong, with our mobile operator customers accelerating investment, driving significantly increased demand for our infrastructure,” CEO Tom Greenwood said in the company’s latest earnings report.

Helios Towers is expected to add about 3,000 to 3,500 tenancies, a number of tower spaces leased to telecoms customers, in fiscal 2026. This is an increase ‌compared with its earlier estimate ⁠of 2,000 to 2,500 additions.