This initiative aims to inform and guide public policy decisions as part of the broader effort to bridge Burkina Faso’s digital divide. According to the Ministry of Digital Transition, the platform will enable both public and private stakeholders to coordinate their actions to foster cohesive digital development, optimise investments, prevent overlapping infrastructure projects, and improve access to telecommunications services for citizens.
In line with these efforts, the government announced a substantial project on September 30, allocating 25 billion CFA francs to connect 750 dead zones by 2025. This initiative is part of the “zero dead zones” program, which aims to eliminate areas without connectivity by 2027.
Currently, 1,700 zones have been identified as lacking coverage, with 138 covered in 2024 and 283 in 2022. The national strategy also includes plans to achieve 100% broadband coverage by 2030, emphasising infrastructure sharing, strengthening the national backbone, deploying fibre optic networks directly to homes, and increasing investments in digital infrastructure.
Recent figures released in August 2024 by Aminata Zerbo, the Minister of Digital Transition, show that mobile phone coverage stands at 85%, while 3G internet coverage is at 64%, and 4G internet coverage is at 46%. The International Telecommunications Union (ITU) data from 2023 indicates that internet penetration in Burkina Faso was at 17%, significantly lower than mobile telephony, which reached a penetration rate of 55.9%. These developments highlight ongoing efforts to expand digital access across the country and improve connectivity for all Burkinabe citizens.
