Burkina Faso Could Get a Virtual Operator to Cut Internet Costs 🇧🇫📶

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High Internet costs remain a major concern for Burkinabè citizens. To address this, Moussa Traoré, a network and telecom engineer and CEO of Yolse Telecom, is pushing for the introduction of a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) to boost competition and make digital access more affordable.

Breaking the Price Barrier💡

Burkina Faso’s telecom market is currently dominated by three players: Orange, Moov Africa, and Telecel. Each owns its infrastructure, yet consumers still complain about steep prices.

Traoré’s proposal is based on the MVNO model. Unlike traditional operators, a virtual operator doesn’t need to build its own antennas or networks. Instead, it leases capacity from established operators while focusing on commercial management and customer service. This setup lowers investment and operational costs—potentially leading to more competitive data packages.

The Ministry of Digital Transition also highlighted that this model is well-suited to the country’s current security context, as it avoids large-scale infrastructure rollouts in hard-to-reach areas.

A Market Under Social Pressure🔥

The high cost of Internet in Burkina Faso has been a long-standing issue, sparking repeated consumer protests. In April 2023, the campaign “Vent du salut” (“Wind of Salvation”) made waves as users staged mass disconnections across all three operators’ networks to denounce price hikes.

The move forced the country’s telecom regulator, ARCEP, to step in and pressure operators to adjust their offers with subscribers’ purchasing power in mind. Yet, nearly two years later, the problem remains unresolved.

MVNOs: A Proven Alternative Elsewhere 🌍

Globally, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has noted that MVNOs foster competition and help drive down prices. In a 2020 analysis, telecom expert Susan Welsh de Grimaldo explained that MVNOs often have more flexibility to innovate and tailor pricing models, as long as they keep their fixed costs low.

Several African countries, including South Africa and Nigeria, have already introduced MVNOs with positive effects on affordability. Burkina Faso could follow suit and join this regional momentum, giving consumers more choice.

A Project Still on Hold⏳

For now, the Burkinabè MVNO remains just a proposal. The Minister of Digital Transition, Aminata Zerbo/Sabané, has pledged further technical studies, but no official timeline has been announced.

Earlier this year, the launch of Teriatel, a planned pan-African operator meant to serve Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, was announced. Since then, however, little progress has been made public.

Caught between growing consumer demands and political ambition to diversify the market, the arrival of a virtual operator in Burkina Faso could mark a turning point for digital inclusion. But for now, the country is still waiting for the concept to become reality.

👉🏾 Do you think a virtual operator could really help bring down Internet costs in Africa? Share your thoughts in the comments.