11 December 2025
Telecel Faso has commenced the deployment of 300 new telecom sites across Burkina Faso as part of the government’s initiative to extend coverage to 750 underserved areas.
While this effort aims to close the digital divide, it also serves to strengthen Telecel’s position in a market currently dominated by Orange and Moov Africa.
CEO Boris Compaoré revealed after a meeting with Minister of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications Aminata Zerbo, that the deployment is ongoing, with plans to add an additional 150 sites beyond the initial 150. This expansion is expected to accelerate coverage, particularly in key urban and rural municipalities, and increase the company’s reach to potential new customers, both in areas already served by competitors and in regions where Telecel could be the first provider.
The new sites will significantly improve network coverage. According to government data, in 2024, 2G coverage reached 85%, while 3G internet coverage stood at 64%, and 4G internet at 46%. The government has identified 1,700 underserved areas, with 183 covered in 2022 and 138 in 2024, and a target of 750 areas to be covered by 2025.
This expansion comes at a time when Telecel has been losing ground in the market. Official statistics show its market share in mobile phone services declined from 17.46% in mid-2017 to 9.81% in mid-2025. Meanwhile, Moov Africa’s share increased from 41.81% to 42.8%, and Orange’s grew from 40.73% to 48.11%. In mobile internet services, Orange remains the leader with a market share of 67.7%, followed by Moov Africa at 22.85%, and Telecel at 9.99% as of June 2025.
Despite the challenges, Burkina Faso’s digital divide still presents growth opportunities for operators. The country’s mobile phone penetration rate was over 120%, with mobile internet penetration at 85% by mid-2025. However, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), internet penetration in 2023 was only 17%, compared to 55.9% for mobile phone ownership. This discrepancy is largely due to multiple SIM card ownership, with many users owning several cards, each counted as a separate subscriber by regulators.
Enhancing its market position will require Telecel to address several factors influencing service adoption, including device ownership, affordability, digital skills, perceived value, service quality, and overall user experience. Meeting these challenges will be crucial for the company to regain competitiveness and expand its footprint in Burkina Faso’s evolving digital landscape.
