• Lumitel signs $10 million deal to expand rural broadband

• World Bank, Lumitel fund 2G, 4G rollout in 86 hills

• Project targets 400,000 users, 300 schools connectivity

Telecom operator Lumitel signed a $10 million partnership agreement on Monday, March 2, with the Digital Economy Foundations Support Project (PAFEN) to expand broadband access in rural Burundi.

The agreement, signed in Bujumbura, is aimed at widening network coverage across the country.

“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.

The project combines public and private funding. The World Bank will provide $4.37 million through PAFEN, while Lumitel will invest $5.62 million from its own resources.

The funds will be used to deploy 2G and 4G mobile infrastructure in 86 local administrative units, known as hills, across 14 provinces. The rollout is expected to bring coverage to around 400,000 additional users and connect nearly 300 schools to the internet.

Beyond expanding network access, the initiative aims to support digital education, move public services online and expand telemedicine in underserved areas. Lumitel will oversee the technical design and operation of the base stations, in coordination with PAFEN.

The project aligns with Burundi’s 2040-2060 national development strategy, which identifies digital technology as a driver of economic transformation. It also seeks to address low connectivity levels. Internet penetration stood at about 11.1% at the end of 2025, according to DataReportal. More than 75% of the population lives in rural areas, where 4G coverage remains limited. The project is intended to expand access in those regions.

Samira Njoya