Burundi has set a June 25, 2026 deadline for all mobile subscribers to update their SIM card registration details, warning that non-compliant lines will be deactivated after the cut-off date, according to the national telecom regulator.
The Telecommunications Regulation and Control Agency (ARCT) announced the measure in a statement dated June 3, saying the exercise targets subscribers whose identification data contain irregularities, including damaged or illegible national identity documents.
Only national identity cards will be accepted for the verification and update process, the regulator said.
Subscribers affected by the directive have already begun receiving SMS notifications instructing them to regularise their registration details before the deadline.
The move is part of a broader national effort to tighten oversight of mobile communications and improve the integrity of subscriber data in a country where mobile usage has expanded rapidly in recent years.
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The directive is based on a ministerial order issued on January 13, 2026, which sets out new rules governing SIM card registration and usage in Burundi. The framework is designed to strengthen security in mobile communications, reduce fraud, and promote responsible use of telecommunications services.
Authorities say the policy reflects growing concerns across the region over the misuse of mobile networks for fraud and other illicit activities, particularly as digital adoption accelerates.
Burundi has seen significant growth in mobile penetration, with 8.79 million mobile subscriptions and 1.6 million internet users recorded by the end of December 2025, according to data cited from DataReportal. The figures are notable in a country with a population of around 14.5 million.
However, the expansion has also been accompanied by an increase in telecom-related fraud, mirroring trends seen in several African countries that have introduced stricter SIM registration requirements in recent years, including Nigeria, Ghana, Benin and Senegal.
Officials argue that tighter registration systems are necessary to improve traceability of mobile communications and support law enforcement efforts, but the policy is also expected to face operational challenges.
Among them is the reliance on national identity cards as the sole form of identification, which could exclude users whose documents are missing, damaged or inaccessible.
Similar registration campaigns elsewhere on the continent have also faced difficulties such as limited registration infrastructure in rural areas, power outages disrupting processing systems, and reluctance or delays among users to complete the process.
In some cases, authorities have struggled with inaccurate or incomplete data submissions, further complicating efforts to build comprehensive and reliable subscriber databases.
Despite these challenges, the government maintains that the measure is necessary to strengthen digital security and ensure better regulation of the fast-growing telecommunications sector.
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As the deadline approaches, regulators are expected to intensify public awareness campaigns to encourage compliance and minimise disruptions for mobile users across the country.
