FAST Congo, the wholesale connectivity joint venture between the Paratus Group and Global Broadband Solutions (GBS) operating in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has named Gaetan Soltesz as its new General Manager. Soltesz brings over 25 years of international telecommunications experience to the role at a moment the company describes as pivotal for digital infrastructure development in the region.
Established in 2023, FAST Congo currently operates a high-capacity 600km fibre route connecting coastal submarine cable landing points to Kinshasa. The company plans ongoing upgrades and capacity expansions to the corridor in anticipation of significant near-term traffic growth.
Soltesz’s mandate is broad: strengthen national fibre infrastructure partnerships, accelerate the commercialisation of existing backbone assets, and position FAST Congo as the leading wholesale connectivity provider across Central Africa. The appointment aligns with the Paratus Group’s wider ambition to drive commercial growth and deepen its footprint on the continent.
“Connectivity infrastructure is a strategic enabler of economic development. By working closely with stakeholders across both the public and private sectors, we can unlock greater value from existing infrastructure while supporting national digital transformation ambitions.” said Gaetan Soltesz, General Manager, FAST Congo.
Soltesz joins FAST Congo from Silicone Connect, where he served five years as General Manager and built the company into a high-capacity wholesale carrier with cross-border reach. Prior to that, he spent 17 years at Cisco in senior roles overseeing large-scale cloud and networking programmes for major telecom operators. His career spans infrastructure development, wholesale carrier strategy, digital transformation and international programme leadership.
The Paratus Group’s Chief Commercial Officer, Martin Cox, praised the appointment in strong terms.
“We’ve attracted the highest calibre of leader with Gaetan. We warmly welcome him to the Paratus Group and believe his wealth of knowledge, leadership skills and innate understanding of the African telecoms industry will add greater impetus to our expansion strategy.” he said.
The DRC represents one of Africa’s largest untapped connectivity markets, with demand for high-speed data infrastructure rising rapidly across both the public and private sectors. FAST Congo’s existing submarine-linked backbone puts the company in a strong position to serve that growth, and the appointment of an operator of Soltesz’s calibre signals that Paratus intends to move quickly.
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