Burkina Faso mandates local headquarters for big telecoms

The government of Burkina Faso has adopted a landmark regulatory measure requiring large companies, including major telecommunications operators, to build their headquarters within the country, a move aimed at deepening economic anchoring but one that may also strain future digital infrastructure investment.

At a Cabinet meeting on February 12, 2026, officials approved a decree obliging corporations with annual revenues of at least 5 billion FCFA over the past three years to erect head office buildings on Burkinabé soil. The measure is part of a broader push to strengthen local economic integration, improve urban planning in strategic hubs, and enhance national digital sovereignty.

New construction categories and telecom obligations

The decree establishes differentiated construction standards based on revenue tiers. Companies with annual revenues of 100 billion FCFA or more, designated “Category A”, must build headquarters of at least seven storeys (R+7), complete with underground and surface parking and tailored energy‑efficiency specifications. Two major telecom operators, Orange Burkina Faso and Onatel, fall into this top tier.

According to data from the Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes (ARCEP), Onatel reported annual revenues of 117.19 billion FCFA in 2024, while Orange Burkina Faso’s revenues reached 332.91 billion FCFA for the same year, confirming their inclusion in the highest category under the new rules.

Companies in the “Category C” bracket, with revenues between 10 billion and 50 billion FCFA, must build at least four‑storey headquarters (R+4) with surface parking. Telecel Faso falls under this segment, reporting 40.44 billion FCFA in 2024, down from previous years.

Affected firms have six months to present construction plans to an interministerial commission and 36 months to complete their projects. To ease compliance, the government is offering tax exemptions on construction materials and access to developed land parcels through the Société Nationale d’Aménagement des Terrains Urbains (SONATUR).

Early implementation and public symbolism

The policy is already underway. On February 3, 2026, Moov Africa, another leading telecom operator, laid the foundation stone for its future headquarters in the Zone d’Activités Commerciales et Administratives (ZACA) of Ouagadougou. The structure, a five‑storey building extendable to seven, sits on a 7 000 m² plot and represents an estimated investment of 9 billion FCFA, signalling strong corporate commitment to meeting the new requirements.

Authorities have described these developments as symbols of modernity, digital sovereignty and commitment to sustainable development, asserting that larger headquarters will strengthen local economic presence and reflect national aspirations.

Balancing infrastructure and digital investment

While the government’s objectives are clear, analysts warn that the new regulatory burden could inadvertently divert telecom capital from network expansion and digital services, areas critical for Burkina Faso’s broader economic transformation.

Despite steady growth in mobile coverage, with penetration reaching 85 % in 2024, Internet access remains limited. ARCEP figures show 3G coverage at 64 %, 4G at 46 %, and overall Internet penetration at just 17 % as of 2023, lagging behind regional peers. The lack of commercial 5G deployment further highlights gaps in the digital landscape. (itu.int)

Industry studies suggest that launching 5G commercially can require initial investment costs of anywhere between $3 billion and $8 billion, with additional deployment expenses of 20 – 35 % for national coverage, figures that dwarf the construction costs of corporate headquarters and place further pressure on operators’ capital budgets.

Mixed reactions from stakeholders

Telecom sector leaders and digital advocates have expressed cautious support for strengthening the local business environment but warn against underestimating the financial implications. Constructing new headquarters and meeting building standards will demand significant funds that might otherwise support fibre‑optic rollouts, rural network expansions or affordable data pricing initiatives.

For a country striving to accelerate its digital transformation and integrate into the broader West African digital economy, the policy represents a delicate policy trade‑off: reinforcing physical corporate presence and urban development, while ensuring resources for critical digital infrastructure are not constrained.

A policy to watch

Burkina Faso’s approach marks a bold experiment in blending economic localisation with digital policy, and its long‑term success will depend on careful calibration. As global tech investment increasingly focuses on connectivity and digital inclusion, striking the right balance between physical presence requirements and infrastructure investment will be crucial if Burkina Faso hopes to close the digital divide and foster sustainable growth.