20 June 2025
Lumitel, a subsidiary of the Vietnamese conglomerate Viettel, has unveiled a comprehensive five-year plan to invest $20 million in expanding 4G coverage across Burundi.
The initiative aims to reach 75% of the country’s population by 2030, marking a significant step toward enhancing digital connectivity in the East African nation. The announcement was made on June 16 during a formal ceremony at the Ministry of ICT, where an official handover of IT equipment took place.
This strategic investment underscores Lumitel’s commitment to strengthening mobile infrastructure and improving access to digital services, especially in rural and peri-urban areas. The company, which reports over three million subscribers and positions itself as a leader in Burundi’s telecommunications market, intends to modernize its network infrastructure as part of this expansion effort.
Currently, data from the International Telecommunications Union’s DataHub platform indicates that only 32.2% of Burundi’s population is covered by 4G technology. In comparison, 2G coverage reaches 96.8%, and 3G covers about 53.2%, highlighting the need for accelerated 4G deployment to bridge the digital divide.
The investment aligns with Lumitel’s broader strategy, which includes a planned launch of 5G services in 2025. It also responds to the government’s initiative to promote digital inclusion and improve citizens' access to digital platforms. If the target of achieving 75% 4G coverage by 2025 is met, Burundi could make significant progress in its digital transformation journey, with positive impacts expected in education, entrepreneurship, and the delivery of online public services.
