Congo-Brazzaville is set to launch a digital governance agency at an undisclosed date in the near future, according to a report. The new agency will monitor and control the implementation of the country’s ICT project.

The 2008 policy’s implementation was not adequate and effective. Its progress was also poorly monitored. However, the new national policy – developed, revised and updated by the government of Denis Sassou Nguessou with funding from the World Bank – will work towards reducing the digital divide with the view of building an information society where many people will have access to computers and the Internet.

“This is a small country with a small population, but the number of people having access to computers is appalling and  internet penetration is very low, demonstrating that the government, which is only waking up now, has not really made ICT one of its priorities,” said Longange.

About 1 percent of the population in this Central African nation of 4.4 million people have PCs, while 23 percent and 56 percent have access to TV and radio in other order, according to independent statistics.

Unlike the 2008 policy that had two pillars, the government reiterated that the new policy will have three, namely government and public authorities, stakeholders, and service providers.