Burkina Faso launches a digital observatory to map its connected future 🌐

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Burkina Faso’s Ministry of Digital Transition has officially launched the Observatory for Digital Planning (OAN) — a platform designed to centralize, analyze, and share data on telecom infrastructure and digital services nationwide. The goal? To plan faster, invest smarter, and regulate more effectively.

Designed for smarter digital planning 🗺️

Unveiled in Ouagadougou, the OAN is a key tool within the National Digital Master Plan (SDAN) adopted in 2019. It’s meant to give the government a unified, real-time view of the country’s digital landscape — from fiber and mobile networks to wireless and online services.

At its core, the platform uses a WebGIS system to collect geospatial, technical, and economic data from telecom operators, public services, and local authorities. It visualizes existing infrastructure, coverage zones, and expansion plans to help anticipate future needs, avoid redundant investments, and accelerate the country’s rollout of high-speed internet.

Beyond planning, the OAN also acts as a tool for regulation and transparency. Authorities can now align infrastructure projects across sectors — from roads and electricity to fiber optics — while identifying areas at risk of digital exclusion. The platform also enables benchmarking against international standards set by the ITU (International Telecommunication Union).

Bringing transparency online 🔍

According to Minister Aminata Zerbo, the OAN is designed as a “sovereign operational platform” — one that strengthens coordination between operators and public agencies while allowing controlled access for citizens, depending on their roles.

Transparency is another key goal. The platform gives new visibility to policymakers, investors, and local communities, who can now track projects, highlight connectivity needs, and monitor the government’s digital infrastructure commitments.

Still, one major challenge remains: keeping the data up to date. The minister urged telecom operators and partners to stay engaged, warning that “without complete and updated data, there can be no optimized investment or effective planning.”

Ultimately, the ambition is to make the OAN a national decision-making tool — aligned with global standards, but built to serve a uniquely Burkinabè vision of digital development.

👉🏾 What do you think of Burkina Faso’s move to boost digital transparency and infrastructure planning? 🌍