PUBLISHER: BuddeComm | PRODUCT CODE: 1067664
PUBLISHER: BuddeComm | PRODUCT CODE: 1067664
Burundi - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses
Burundi gains greater internet connectivity to neighbouring countries
Among African countries, Burundi provides an attractive telecom market given its high population density and existing low penetration rates for all services. However, one downside for investors is that the country has a very low economic output, disposable income is also very low, and fixed-line infrastructure is poor outside the main urban areas. In practice, the is greater motivation for investors to focus on improving mobile networks than in expanding fixed-line infrastructure.
To overcome difficulties associated with the poor telecom infrastructure, the government has supported a number of prominent telcos building a national fibre backbone network. This network offers onward connectivity to submarine cable infrastructure landings in Kenya and Tanzania. The first sections of this network were switched on in early 2014, and additional provinces have since been connected. In addition, the government in early 2018 kick-started the Burundi Broadband project, which aims to deliver national connectivity by 2025. Based on this improved infrastructure the government and ITU have developed an ICT strategy to make use of telecoms to promote the country's socio-economic development through to 2028. In addition, progress made by Tanzania with its own national backbone network has benefitted Burundi, which has been provided with onward connectivity to most countries in the region.
International bandwidth capacity has continued to increase in recent years, including a 38% increase in the nine months to September 2021, resulting in lower retail prices for consumers.
Two of the mobile operators have launched 3G and LTE services to capitalise on the growing demand for internet access. The number of mobile subscribers increased 7% in the third quarter of 2021, quarter-on-quarter. Similar growth is expected for the next two years at least, which will help bring the mobile penetration to a level closer to the average for the region.
Key developments:
- Government launches e-health project, progresses with its Broadband Burundi 2025 project;
- Lumitel providing national LTE coverage;
- ICT program launched to promote socio-economic development;
- Mobile subscriber penetration broaches 70%;
- Report update includes the regulator's market data to Q3 2021, updated Telecom Maturity Index charts and analyses, assessment of the global impact of the pandemic on the telecoms sector, recent market developments.
Companies mentioned in this report:
Office National des Telecommunications (Onatel, Onamob); U-Com (Orascom, Telecel Globe, Leo), VTEL Holdings (Tempo, Africell Safaris), Econet Wireless Burundi (Spacetel), LaCell SU (Smart Burundi), Renaissance Capital, BNP Paribas, Millenium Finance, Linkstone Capital.
Table of Contents
Key statistics
Regional Africa Market Comparison
- Market characteristics
- Market Leaders
- Market Challengers
- Market Emergents
- TMI vs GDP
- Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
- Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration
Country overview
Covid-19 and its impact on the telecom sector
- Economic considerations and responses
- Subscribers
- Infrastructure
Telecommunications market
Regulatory environment
Mobile market
- Mobile statistics
- Mobile broadband
- Major mobile operators
- Econet
- Africa Cellulaire
- Viettel (Lumitel)
- Smart Telecom
- Onamob
- Mobile content and applications
- M-commerce
Broadband market
- Broadband statistics
Fixed network operators
Telecommunications infrastructure
- Overview of the national telecom network
Appendix - Historic data
Glossary of abbreviations
Related reports
List of Tables
- Table 1 - Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Burundi - 2021 (e)
- Table 2 - Development of telecom market revenue and investment (BIF billion) - 2012 - 2019
- Table 3 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2012 - 2027
- Table 4 - Development of mobile market revenue - 2012 - 2020
- Table 5 - Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2012 - 2027
- Table 6 - Growth in the number of Econet's mobile subscribers - 2012 - 2019
- Table 7 - Growth in the number of Lumitel's mobile subscribers - 2015 - 2019
- Table 8 - Growth in the number of Smart Telecom's mobile subscribers - 2013 - 2019
- Table 9 - Change in the number of Onamob's mobile subscribers - 2013 - 2019
- Table 10 - Growth in the number of mobile money users and penetration - 2016 - 2021
- Table 11 - Value of mobile money transactions (registered users) (BIF million) - 2016 - 2020
- Table 12 - Growth in the number of m-money agents - 2017 - 2020
- Table 13 - Growth in the number of internet users - 2012 - 2021
- Table 14 - Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers - 2012 - 2022
- Table 15 - Increase in internet market revenue - 2012 - 2021
- Table 16 - Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 2012 - 2027
- Table 17 - International internet bandwidth - 2012 - 2020
- Table 18 - Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 1999 - 2011
- Table 19 - Historic - Internet users - 2006 - 2011
- Table 20 - Historic - International internet bandwidth - 2004 - 2011
- Table 21 - Historic - Fixed internet users and penetration rate - 2010 - 2011
- Table 22 - Historic - Mobile subscribers and penetration rate - 1999 - 2011
- Table 23 - Historic - Mobile market investment - 2011 - 2016
List of Charts
- Chart 1 - Africa Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Leaders
- Chart 2 - Africa - Market Leaders global ranking
- Chart 3 - Africa Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Challengers
- Chart 4 - Africa - Market Challengers global ranking
- Chart 5 - Africa Telecoms Maturity Index - Market Emergents
- Chart 6 - Africa - Market Emergents global ranking
- Chart 7 - Africa - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
- Chart 8 - Africa - Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
- Chart 9 - Africa - Fixed and mobile broadband penetration
- Chart 10 - Development of telecom market revenue and investment - 2012 - 2019
- Chart 11 - Growth in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration - 2012 - 2027
- Chart 12 - Development of mobile market revenue - 2012 - 2020
- Chart 13 - Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration - 2013 - 2027
- Chart 14 - Growth in the number of Econet's mobile subscribers - 2012 - 2019
- Chart 15 - Growth in the number of Lumitel's mobile subscribers - 2015 - 2019
- Chart 16 - Growth in the number of Smart Telecom's mobile subscribers - 2013 - 2019
- Chart 17 - Change in the number of Onamob's mobile subscribers - 2013 - 2019
- Chart 18 - Growth in the number of mobile money users and penetration - 2016 - 2021
- Chart 19 - Value of mobile money transactions (registered users) - 2016 - 2020
- Chart 20 - Growth in the number of internet users - 2012 - 2021
- Chart 21 - Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers - 2012 - 2022
- Chart 22 - Increase in internet market revenue - 2012 - 2021
- Chart 23 - Fixed lines in service and teledensity - 2012 - 2027
List of Exhibits
- Exhibit 1 - Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Africa
- Exhibit 2 - Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
- Exhibit 3 - Africa - Market Leaders and market developments
- Exhibit 4 - Africa - Market Challengers and market developments
- Exhibit 5 - Africa - Market Emergents and market developments
- Exhibit 6 - Map of Burundi
