Lyca Mobile has been granted a license to establish and operate a telecommunications network in Burundi, following a presidential decree issued in October.
This development marks a significant step in Lyca Mobile’s strategic plans for expansion across Africa, where it already has a presence in Uganda and Tunisia. The license aligns with the country’s broader efforts to accelerate digital transformation, enhance mobile coverage, and boost sector competitiveness. Lyca Mobile Burundi stated that the government views connectivity and innovation as key drivers for economic and social development.
Earlier this year, Lyca Group announced a strategic reorganisation aimed at fostering growth, streamlining operations, and strengthening its digital capabilities. Part of this plan involves launching new activities on the African continent later in 2024. This move comes amid ongoing challenges related to digital inequality, with the GSMA reporting that sub-Saharan Africa had 527 million mobile subscribers in 2023, representing a penetration rate of 44%. Many countries face issues with service quality, which often leads to consumer dissatisfaction.
In Nigeria, authorities see MVNOs as a means to bridge the gap between unserved and underserved populations, while also stimulating competition and increasing consumer choice — a strategy being mirrored in South Africa. In Burundi, Lyca Mobile will enter a market currently served by three network operators: Viettel, Econet Leo, and Onatel, along with seven Internet Service Providers including CBINET, Spidernet, Usan, LamiWireless, NT Global, BBS, and Starlink. Despite these providers, the country had approximately 8.5 million mobile subscribers at the end of 2024, with a penetration rate of around 65%. Internet subscriptions were estimated at 3.4 million, or roughly 26% of the population.
The exact timeline for Lyca Mobile’s service launch remains uncertain, as the presidential decree indicates that technical and financial conditions will be detailed in the concession contract to be signed with the country’s Telecommunications Regulation and Control Agency (ARCT). Additionally, Lyca Mobile will need to enter into an agreement with an existing mobile network operator, whose physical infrastructure it will utilise to deliver its telecom services.
