ONATEL or Office National des Télécommunications (National Office for Telecommunications), Burkinabe subsidiary of Moroccan telecom group Maroc Telecom, announced it has generated a net profit of 25.27 billion CFA ($43.3 million) for the 2015 fiscal year, this despite the various socio-political troubles the West African nation experienced during the year. This performance was paired with an increase in its number of customers which reached 6.75 million, thus rising 24%.

The firm’s turnover over the period grew 11% compared to the previous year to 144.7 billion CFA though its number of landline and internet services users dropped. Its operating result rose 44% to 38.40 billion CFA. ONATEL said this performance was due to the fact that investments increased 30%, most of which was directed to its mobile division.

With 7% and 9% respectively for its landline and data services, the company performed poorly in those segments.

ONATEL is optimistic regarding this year. On the WAEMU stock exchange where it is listed, ONATEL’s share closed on February 9 at +4.8% out of 26,572 traded shares.

Idriss Linge