(Ecofin Agency) - Digital transformation is one of the main pillars of Burkina Faso’s development programs. The country wants to build a robust and reliable digital infrastructure to achieve that goal. 

Burkina Faso has contracted  Bridge Fiber Solutions (BFS), a subsidiary of Telecel Faso SA, to operate and manage its national telecommunications backbone. The company launched its commercial activities in Ouagadougou last Friday.

Under the contract binding it with the government, BFS will operate and market the 3,000-km infrastructure built by the government. The infrastructure connects the 13 regions and municipalities to Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, and Mali. 

BFS will provide telecom companies and other operators with various services such as capacity leasing, dark fiber leasing, wavelength leasing, duct leasing, as well as Internet access. It will invest in the modernization and extension of the network if needed.

According to Aminata Zerbo-Sabané (photo, center), Minister of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications, this initiative is part of the "digitalization dynamic" in which the Burkinabe government is engaged. The government aims to leverage digital tools to transform and accelerate socio-economic development. 

With sound management of its national telecommunications backbone, the country will notably improve the quality and coverage of telecom and broadband internet services. It will also reduce communication costs and accelerate mobile penetration. 

"By improving these electronic communication infrastructures, we are providing the means to ensure the economic competitiveness of our companies and to improve the performance of our defense and security forces in this challenging context," said Zerbo-Sabané.

Isaac K. Kassouwi