• Companies with CFA5B+ revenue must establish headquarters in country

• Telecom operators Moov, Orange, Telecel affected by decree

• Firms have 36 months to complete construction

Burkina Faso’s government adopted a decree on February 12 requiring large companies with annual revenue of at least CFA5 billion (about $9 million) over the past three fiscal years to build their headquarters in the country. The measure applies notably to the three mobile network operators active in Burkina Faso, given their revenue levels.

The decree sets construction standards based on company size. It defines four categories covering revenue brackets ranging from less than CFA10 billion to more than CFA100 billion.

Category A includes companies with annual revenue of at least CFA100 billion. They must build at minimum a seven-story building (R+7) with both underground and surface parking and incorporate energy efficiency standards. Moov Africa and Orange fall within this category. According to data from the Electronic Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARCEP), Onatel posted revenue of CFA117.19 billion in 2024, CFA111.76 billion in 2023, and CFA120.83 billion in 2022. Orange recorded CFA332.91 billion in 2024, CFA299.93 billion in 2023, and CFA251.77 billion in 2022.

Telecel Faso falls under Category C, which applies to companies with revenue between CFA10 billion and CFA50 billion. These firms must construct at least a four-story building (R+4) with surface parking. Telecel reported revenue of CFA40.44 billion in 2024, CFA42.41 billion in 2023, and CFA45.68 billion in 2022.

Companies have six months to submit their construction plans to an interministerial commission and 36 months to complete the work. They may benefit from tax exemptions on construction materials and can acquire serviced land from the National Urban Land Development Company (SONATUR).

On February 3, Moov Africa laid the foundation stone for its future headquarters. Located in Ouagadougou’s Commercial and Administrative Activities Zone (ZACA) on a 7,000-square-meter plot, the building will initially be five stories (R+5) and expandable to seven stories, with an announced investment of CFA9 billion. Authorities have presented the project as a symbol of modernization, digital sovereignty, and commitment to sustainable development.

Investment trade-offs to watch

The new real estate obligations raise questions about whether they could affect operators’ capacity to invest in digital infrastructure, as the government pursues ambitious digital transformation goals. Authorities aim to expand broadband access, accelerate fiber optic deployment, and extend telecom infrastructure to underserved areas.

In August 2024, Minister of Digital Transition Aminata Zerbo/Sabane said mobile service coverage stood at 85%, compared with 64% for 3G internet and 46% for 4G. According to the International Telecommunication Union, internet penetration in Burkina Faso was 17% in 2023, while mobile penetration reached 55.9%.

Commercial 5G services have not yet been launched in the country. Deployment requires significant investment. A 2022 study by Ericsson estimates the initial cost of launching 5G in a country at between $3 billion and $8 billion, with additional investment of 20% to 35% needed for nationwide coverage expansion.

Isaac K. Kassouwi