National telco Onatel has secured $5.9 million to improve network coverage and expand 4G mobile internet in rural Burundi.
The deal was signed under the framework of Projet d'Appui aux Fondations de l'Economie Numérique (PAFEN), a $92 million World Bank-funded initiative to modernise public services and expand high-speed internet.
The 18-month contract marks an important step toward inclusive connectivity and illustrates the collective will to build an accessible digital ecosystem, according to PAFEN.
Recent analysis shows that the East African nation had 8.04 million active cellular connections in early 2025, representing about 56.6% of the population. By October 2025, this had increased, with mobile connections reaching 60.7% of the total population.
Through the contract, 92 communities currently without 2G or 3G networks will be serviced to contribute to digital inclusion. The project will benefit 372 035 people living in rural areas, including schools and health facilities.
"Connecting 92 rural communities, which have so far been on the margins of the network, is not just about deploying 4G. It is about opening access to information, public services and economic opportunities, and ensuring that digital transformation becomes a reality across the entire territory,” said Dr Alain Ndikumana, minister of finance, budget and digital economy.
The project aims to extend digital infrastructure beyond urban centres to facilitate access to services, support economic activities and reduce territorial disparities, the finance ministry said.
The ministry went on to say the project is part of the implementation of Vision 2040-2060, particularly under pillar two relating to economic efficiency and the development of information and communication technologies.
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