Mobile Sector Taxation: Comparative Fiscal Burden in DRC

The mobile telecommunications sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) faces a highly complex and burdensome tax environment. This includes numerous general and sector-specific taxes and fees imposed on both consumers and operators. Such complexity results in a high overall tax burden and significantly increases compliance costs for operators. These fiscal challenges hinder investment in infrastructure, limit network expansion, and reduce service quality, thereby slowing digital inclusion and broader socioeconomic development.

This brief assesses the fiscal burden on the mobile sector and compares it with two other critical sectors in DRC: mining & extraction and retail finance.