Burundi and Zambia have taken a significant step towards enhancing their digital connectivity by signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to link the two countries with an underwater fibre optic cable. The agreement was inked during the Digital Government Africa Summit, which took place in Lusaka, Zambia.
A private company, yet to be named, has been commissioned to carry out the installation of the fibre optic cable along the bed of Lake Tanganyika. This will connect Zambia’s Northern Province directly with the southern Makamba Province of Burundi. With 350 kilometres of the cable already in place, Zambia is poised to become an important regional hub for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), promising to boost communication speeds, reliability, and accessibility within the area.
Zambia’s Minister of Science and Technology, Felix Mutati, emphasized the strategic importance of this development, noting that it will not only enhance digital communication between Zambia and Burundi but also facilitate Burundi’s data transmission through Zambia, linking it with other nations in Southern and Eastern Africa.
This new connection will make Burundi the ninth country to establish a cable connection with Zambia, joining a network that includes Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.
Burundi’s Minister of Communication, Technology and Information, Léocadie Ndacayisaba, expressed optimism about the project, acknowledging the MoU as a landmark in the technological collaboration between the two countries. She anticipates that the initiative will revolutionize the digital infrastructure of both nations, leading to enhanced internet services, improved communication, and a better quality of life for the citizens.
In February 2024, Burundi celebrated the completion of the first phase of its national fibre optic network project, which began in 2012. The Burundi Backbone System (BBS) Company, which includes five major telecommunications firms such as the state-owned Onatel, was responsible for the construction. The World Bank’s Regional Communication Infrastructure Programme, the Burundian government, and various private entities have provided support for the BBS.
Statistical projections by Statista indicate that internet penetration in Burundi is expected to hit 18.33% in 2024, with around 2.51 million households gaining internet access. Similarly, in Zambia, internet penetration is estimated to reach 43.44% in the same year, with 2.48 million households anticipated to have internet connectivity.
Zambia has been actively pursuing improvements in its digital infrastructure. In February 2024, the country announced the construction of 60 new 4G mobile towers to enhance internet connectivity in rural areas. This announcement came on the heels of plans to set up digital centres offering free internet access to citizens.
Furthermore, in June 2024, Minister Felix Mutati revealed that the government, in partnership with the private sector, is erecting 520 communication towers across Zambia. The goal is to achieve 96% phone and internet coverage by the end of 2025, extending into early 2026, marking a major leap forward in the country’s digital expansion efforts.
