Burundi on Monday signed a US$10 million agreement with telecom operator Lumitel to expand broadband access in rural areas, in a project backed by the World Bank aimed at connecting hundreds of thousands of people and nearly 300 schools.
The partnership, sealed in the economic capital Bujumbura, will see the deployment of 2G and 4G infrastructure across 86 local administrative units, known as hills, in 14 of the country’s provinces.
The initiative is being implemented under the Digital Economy Foundations Support Project (PAFEN), which combines public and private financing to address Burundi’s low internet penetration and limited rural connectivity.
Under the terms of the agreement, the World Bank will contribute US$4.37 million through PAFEN, while Lumitel will invest $5.62 million of its own funds. The total investment of nearly $10 million is expected to extend network coverage to around 400,000 additional users.
It will also connect close to 300 schools to the internet, a move officials say could help accelerate digital learning and improve access to online educational resources in underserved communities.
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“Economic activity must go hand in hand with social responsibility. We are investing in infrastructure not only to expand our market, but to broaden opportunities for citizens,” Lumitel Director General Phan Truong Son said at the signing ceremony.
Beyond widening network access, the project is designed to support broader digital transformation efforts in the landlocked East African nation. Authorities say improved connectivity could facilitate the rollout of e-government services and boost telemedicine initiatives in remote areas where healthcare access remains limited.
Lumitel will oversee the technical design, deployment and operation of the new base stations, working in coordination with PAFEN to ensure coverage targets are met.
Burundi has one of the lowest internet penetration rates in the region. According to DataReportal, internet usage stood at about 11.1 percent at the end of 2025. More than 75 percent of the population lives in rural areas, where high-speed mobile broadband coverage remains patchy or unavailable.
Officials say bridging the digital divide is central to the country’s long-term development ambitions. The broadband expansion aligns with Burundi’s Vision 2040-2060 national development strategy, which identifies digital technology as a key driver of economic growth, innovation and social inclusion.
Limited connectivity has long constrained business development, access to financial services and information flow in rural Burundi. Expanding 4G infrastructure is expected to stimulate entrepreneurship, improve access to digital payments and enhance communication between remote communities and urban centres.
The World Bank has been supporting digital infrastructure projects across Africa as part of efforts to boost economic resilience and inclusion. In Burundi, PAFEN aims to strengthen foundational elements of the digital economy, including connectivity, regulatory frameworks and digital skills.
Analysts say partnerships between governments, development institutions and private operators are increasingly crucial in extending broadband to rural areas, where high deployment costs and lower returns often deter purely commercial investment.
For Lumitel, the project represents both a market expansion opportunity and a contribution to national development goals. For the government, it is a step toward closing a connectivity gap that has left much of the rural population offline.
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If successfully implemented, the initiative could significantly increase broadband coverage in targeted provinces and bring Burundi closer to regional peers in digital access, laying groundwork for wider economic transformation in the years ahead.
Burundi remains one of the least digitally connected countries in East Africa. With internet penetration estimated at just 11.1 percent at the end of 2025, access to reliable broadband remains limited, particularly outside urban centres such as Bujumbura. More than three-quarters of the population lives in rural areas, where infrastructure gaps, high deployment costs and low purchasing power have slowed private-sector investment in telecommunications.
The government has identified digital transformation as a strategic pillar under its Vision 2040–2060 development framework, which aims to modernise the economy, improve public service delivery and stimulate private-sector growth. Expanding broadband access is seen as essential to achieving these goals, particularly in areas such as education, healthcare and financial inclusion.
The Digital Economy Foundations Support Project (PAFEN), backed by the World Bank, was created to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure and regulatory environment. It focuses on improving connectivity, enhancing digital public services and building foundational systems to support long-term digital growth.
Lumitel, one of Burundi’s leading telecom operators, has been expanding its footprint in recent years but faces structural challenges common in frontier markets, including high infrastructure costs and limited electricity access in rural communities.
The new $10 million partnership reflects a broader continental trend in which governments, development finance institutions and private telecom operators collaborate to extend broadband networks to underserved populations. Such blended financing models are increasingly viewed as necessary to bridge Africa’s digital divide and unlock economic potential in rural regions.
