Burundi’s Minister of Communication Technology and Media, Leocadie Ndacayisaba, told senators that the adoption of the East African Community (EAC) protocol on Regional Digital Integration (RDI) is crucial for improving the country’s ICT infrastructure. “The adoption of this protocol will facilitate the management of ICT services across the region and help us promote the availability, accessibility, and quality of these services,” Ndacayisaba said.
Speaking before the Senate, Ndacayisaba addressed several concerns regarding Burundi’s mobile network coverage, which lags behind regional averages. “Our 2G mobile network covers 97% of the country, which is comparable to Kenya’s coverage of 97%, but still falls behind Rwanda at 99% and Uganda at 98%,” she explained.
However, the Minister acknowledged that mobile internet penetration remains a challenge. “Burundi’s mobile internet penetration is currently at 22%, and we must intensify our efforts to improve digital access for our population,” Ndacayisaba said, pointing out that the regional average is much higher.
Regarding 3G coverage, the Minister reported that 51% of the population has access, well below the EAC average of 78%. Coverage of 4G is similarly limited, with just 32% of the population covered as of 2023, compared to the regional average of 62%. “Though we have made progress, there is much more to be done to catch up,” she added.
Looking to the future, Ndacayisaba noted that the telecom operator Lumitel plans to deploy 5G equipment on 10 sites within the year. “The deployment of 5G will help accelerate our digital transformation and improve access to faster, more reliable internet services,” she said.
The Minister attributed delays in ICT development to historical factors. “The delay in adopting the National ICT Policy in 2011 and the more recent promulgation of the Electronic Communications Code in 2024 have contributed to our current ICT challenges,” she explained.
In a call for greater urgency, the Speaker of the Senate, Emmanuel Sinzohagera, urged lawmakers to expedite efforts to close the digital gap. “We must redouble our efforts to improve the sector and ensure that Burundi is fully integrated into the regional digital economy,” Sinzohagera said. The Senate ultimately voted unanimously to ratify the protocol on the EAC’s Regional Digital Integration.
Burundi Joins East African One Network Area
This move toward digital integration follows Burundi’s formal entry into the EAC’s One Network Area (ONA) initiative, effective August 1, 2024. The Burundi Telecommunications Regulation and Control Agency (ACRT) announced new regulations reducing regional roaming tariffs in line with Decree No. 100/202 of October 2, 2023. “With this entry, Burundi joins Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania in the ONA, which reduces the high costs of telecommunications across the region,” Ndacayisaba said.
The ONA initiative ensures that calls and data roaming charges between the six countries will be treated as domestic rates, significantly lowering the cost of communication across borders. However, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia—newer members of the EAC—have yet to join the initiative.
The EAC has also made progress toward broader digital integration. In July 2022, the EAC adopted an e-Commerce Strategy to enhance the region’s digital trade capacity, improve legal and regulatory frameworks, and strengthen public-private collaboration. “The full implementation of the ONA and the e-Commerce Strategy will require sustained support from both EAC member states and the region as a whole,” Ndacayisaba noted.
