During the second quarter of 2024 (April, May, June), the Internet penetration rate in Burundi was estimated at 23.36%, while that of mobile financial services was at 55%. These figures appear in the report recently published by the Telecommunications Regulatory and Control Agency (ARCT), which presents a state of the communications services market in this country.
(Cio mag) – The Burundian regulator has published the market observatory for voice, SMS, Internet and mobile financial services in Burundi for the period of April, May and June, corresponding to the second quarter of 2024 In this document, the ARCT specifies that mobile financial services continue to grow. At the end of the mentioned period, the number of subscriptions “to mobile financial services platforms reached 7,152,826, corresponding to a penetration rate of 55%. In terms of average monthly income, this sector generated 8,237,140,374 FBU,” or more than 1 billion CFA Francs.
Three main operators
This document also highlights trends observed in the telecommunications sectors. At the end of June 2024, “the total number of mobile phone subscriptions stood at 7,987,392, representing a penetration rate of 60.98%,” we read in the report. The telecommunications market in Burundi is currently dominated by three main operators: Econet Leo, Viettel Burundi and Onatel.
Concerning Internet access, the number of mobile Internet subscriptions reached more than 3 million during the same period. “The Internet penetration rate in Burundi was estimated at 23.36%. The average monthly turnover in this sector is 14,929,192,400 FBU”or more than 3 billion CFA Francs.
The revenues generated by the different sectors presented in this report demonstrate the impact of communication services on the Burundian economy. For several decades, the country’s authorities have been making efforts to reduce the digital divide and make digital transformation a pillar of national development. As a reminder, in September, the American company SpaceX, specializing in the provision of Internet by satellite, launched its activities in Burundi.
For more details, see the ARCT report here.
Enock Bulonza
Journalist specializing in ICT and health. Passionate about emerging technologies. As Cio-Mag correspondent in the African Great Lakes region, I am responsible for covering technological developments and providing accurate and relevant information on these topics.
