Economic impacts of submarine fiber optic cables and broadband connectivity in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Alan C. O'Connor; Sara Edmonds Lawrence; Benjamin Jordan Anderson; Alice Olive Brower; Alan C. O'Connor; Benjamin Jordan Anderson; Fola Odufuwa; Sara Edmonds Lawrence; Alice Olive Brower

Economic impacts of submarine fiber optic cables and broadband connectivity in the Democratic Republic of Congo

O'Connor, A. C., Anderson, B., Odufuwa, F., Lawrence, S. E., & Brower, A. O. (2020). Economic impacts of submarine fiber optic cables and broadband connectivity in the Democratic Republic of Congo. RTI International.

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Abstract

Subsea cables are the global backbone of the Internet, connecting people, businesses, and economies around the world. They connect us to the cloud, deliver streaming video, and increase efficiency and productivity for business. Subsea cables’ importance is all the more apparent during the Covid19 pandemic when many of us have switched to working from home, remote learning, and online gaming and entertainment.

We studied the economic impact of subsea cables and broadband connectivity on the DRC. Landing in 2012, the DRC’s sole cable led to transformational effects, increasing productivity and efficiency, leading to significant impacts on employment and economic growth.