BUJUMBURA, January 5 (BC) – While 5G has officially launched in Burundi, a student remains unable to submit their academic work, and a journalist struggles to report. The persistent failure of 2G, 3G, and 4G networks blocks access to essential digital services for thousands of users. This paradox highlights a two-tiered internet and the shortcomings of a technological modernization undertaken without a truly functional, equitable, and inclusive Public Digital Infrastructure (DPI).
In front of his laptop, phone in hand, Elie Matore remains frozen. The screen still displays « Submission failed. » He tries again: once, twice, three times. The upload bar doesn’t move. Time passes. Minutes turn into hours. Around him, the silence is awkward. Thousands of kilometers away, his university awaits his work. He lowers his head, distraught, aware that this delay is neither his fault nor his will.
Not far away, Innocent Ndayizigiye has witnessed the same scene. Phone in hand, signal bars displayed, internet icon lit. He has refreshed the page, but nothing is loaded. He sighed, put down the device, and then tried again. The tool meant to inform him had become an obstacle. At this precise moment, the promised 5G seemed distant, almost abstract. What they have lacked isn’t speed, but simply a reliable internet connection.
When 5G Masks Daily Outages
Indeed, in Bujumbura as in the rest of the country, the internet has become a daily source of frustration. For several months, users have been complaining about slow, unstable, and sometimes nonexistent connections. WhatsApp messages don’t go through, calls are dropped, and online platforms are inaccessible: for many, even 2G, 3G, or 4G no longer function properly.
This situation, far beyond a simple technical problem, actually reveals a deeper fragility: that of a still unstable Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). “Today, in fact, internet access is essential for education, work, information, and basic services. Therefore, connectivity is no longer a technological luxury, but fundamentally, a basic public infrastructure, just like electricity or water,” explains Francine Kankindi, a lawyer specializing in business law and a doctoral candidate in digital law at the University of Burundi.
It is in this climate of digital weariness that Viettel Burundi, operating under the name Lumitel since December 2014, announced the official launch of 5G technology on December 19, 2025, during ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of its establishment in Burundi, under the theme “Digital for Life.” This announcement was presented as a major step towards the modernization of telecommunications. But on the ground, one question remains: what good is cutting-edge infrastructure when the basic infrastructure remains unreliable?
“In a Digital Public Infrastructure framework, technological innovation cannot be separated from the reliability of the existing infrastructure. A DPI is not measured by the sophistication of the announced technologies, but by their actual capacity to serve the entire population continuously, equitably, and sustainably,” Francine Kankindi emphasizes.
Despite announcements about 5G, existing networks remain inadequate. According to the Telecommunications Regulatory and Control Agency (ARCT), 3G barely covers 50 to 54% of the population, while 4G reaches only 32 to 34%. Furthermore, 2G, although available to 97% of Burundians, is insufficient for online learning or teleworking. Thus, early 2025, only 12.5% of Burundians were actually using the internet, despite nearly 8 million active mobile connections.
This situation demonstrates that the promise of 5G contrasts sharply with the reality on the ground. In fact, less than a third of the population benefits from a reliable 4G network, essential for accessing mobile internet services. Without concrete actions to strengthen 3G and 4G networks, 5G will remain marginal, accessible only to those who are already connected.
Ambitious speeches in the face of a contrasting reality
During the foresaid ceremonies, the Managing Director of Lumitel Burundi, Phan Truong Son, presented a positive assessment: “Twelve years ago, on December 19, 2013, Lumitel began its journey in Burundi with the promise of bringing modern technology closer to its citizens. With network coverage reaching 97% of the population and internet coverage of 75%, accessible to nearly 11 million people, we are proud to have contributed to placing Burundi among the 31 African countries whose 4G coverage exceeds the continental average,” he emphasized.
Similarly, Do Minh Phuong, Vice President of the Viettel Group, placed 5G within a broader context: “This technological revolution is part of a series of significant initiatives organized to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the Republic of Burundi and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,” he explained. According to the ARCT, 5G offers higher bandwidth and lower latency than previous generations, enabling new applications in the economic, administrative, and service sectors.
Frustration Acknowledged at the Highest Level of Government
However, this optimistic view is strongly tempered by the Burundian authorities themselves. During his meeting with media professionals on December 11, 2025, in Bujumbura, the President of the Republic, Evariste Ndayishimiye expressed his exasperation. « Recently, I have sent them a message telling them: don’t talk to me anymore about projects you’re going to carry out until national coverage is guaranteed, » he lamented. The Head of State linked this situation to the issue of monopolies, emphasizing the need for a more balanced and better-regulated sector.
In any case, this stance by the President of the Republic reflects a classic tension in the development of Public Digital Infrastructure: the gap between strategic announcements and the reality on the ground. For Kankindi, « A Public Digital Infrastructure cannot function sustainably without effective coverage, quality of service, and strong regulation, especially when it becomes essential to the functioning of the State and the economy. »
Monopoly, Saturation, and Structural Limitations
During a workshop on the digital economy held on November 14, 2025, Didmond Mvukiye, Deputy Director General of Lumitel, addressed the market’s evolution: « When we arrived, Smart, Econet Leo, and ONAMOB were operating efficiently. After Smart’s closure in 2022, and the tax difficulties of Econet Leo and ONATEL, many subscribers migrated to Lumitel, leading to network saturation, » he explained.
A problem acknowledged even within the corridors of power
The ruling party, CDD-FDD, echoed this sentiment. At a news conference held on Friday, January 2, 2026, in Bujumbura, its Secretary General, Révérien Ndikuriyo, spoke frankly about the insufficient quality of the internet connection provided by Lumitel. He began by sharing a personal account, revealing the widespread dissatisfaction: “I received a call from Lumitel. Someone on the other end of the line asked me: ‘Dear customer, how are you finding your internet speed?’ I replied: ‘Don’t tell me anything, there’s no internet, it’s terrible.’ The person then asked me: ‘Why are you answering so angrily?’ And I replied: ‘Don’t try to convince me, I’ve already discussed this matter with your supervisor. The internet service you provide is simply not good,’” he recounted.
Beyond this anecdote, Ndikuriyo raised a fundamental question: the operator’s actual capacity to meet national demand. According to him, Lumitel now has more than 5 million subscribers, a figure which, without proportional investments in infrastructure, risks turning digital inclusion into chronic saturation: « We need to assess whether Lumitel has the capacity to support all these customers, » he insisted, calling for collective responsibility to find a concrete, sustainable, and effective solution to an issue that directly affects the daily lives of millions of Burundians.
However, Ndikuriyo sought to reassure the public. He believes that the recent arrival of new companies authorized to operate in Burundi could be a source of hope.
« It is with this in mind that Starlink was approved in Burundi. This technology is based on a satellite connection, which can offer an alternative to traditional terrestrial infrastructure, even if its cost remains high for the majority of the population, » he explained.
He also noted that the operator Lycamobile has recently obtained its authorization to operate in Burundi. According to him, these various initiatives are part of a desire by the authorities to diversify the actors in the sector and to seek more sustainable and effective solutions to the persistent problems of Internet connectivity in the country.
5G as a technical but not universal solution
For the Director General of ARCT, Samuel Muhizi, 5G can nevertheless help to relieve congestion on existing networks: “Lumitel has already installed 80 5G sites in the seven former provinces. Users with compatible devices will migrate to 5G, which will facilitate access to 2G, 3G, and 4G networks for other subscribers,” he revealed. But this solution remains contingent on access to compatible smartphones and effective coverage.
Between regulation, inclusion, and the risk of superficial DPI
Kankindi emphasizes that responsibility does not rest solely with the operator. It also involves the ARCT and, more broadly, the State of Burundi. The legal analysis places the debate in a broader perspective: that of the governance of Digital Public Infrastructure. When internet access becomes a prerequisite for exercising fundamental rights, responsibility cannot rest solely on operators or users, but fully engages the regulator and the State. “ARCT has a legal obligation to monitor the quality of services, verify compliance with specifications, and penalize breaches. In a context of near-monopoly, this responsibility is reinforced, as the lack of competition increases the risk of abuse,” the expert points out.
According to Kankindi, the State, for its part, is the guarantor of the digital public interest. Its role is to ensure equitable, reliable, and affordable internet access, now recognized as a key driver of economic and social development. Prolonged inaction in the face of service degradation can lead to institutional liability for failure to monitor.
This situation also raises questions about the coherence of the discourse surrounding Digital Public Infrastructure. “We cannot fully speak of DPI when internet access remains unstable, expensive, and unequal.” The DPI is based on universal accessibility, reliability, and inclusion. 5G accessible only to a minority equipped with compatible devices risks exacerbating the digital divide rather than reducing it,” Kankindi explains.
Finally, the expert emphasizes users’ rights and recourse. In theory, citizens can contact the operator, file a complaint with the ARCT, or take legal action. In practice, these mechanisms remain little known, complex, and inaccessible, weakening the effective protection of online consumers. “A right without a simple, fast, and transparent redress mechanism remains theoretical. Technological modernization is only legally legitimate if it strengthens the public interest. Otherwise, we risk building a superficial DPI: technologically ambitious, but socially and legally fragile,” she laments.
When the digital divide becomes a human ordeal
Matore, a Master’s student in Management and Business Development at the University of Montpellier, describes a daily life marked by uncertainty: “I activate the daily package.” At the end of the day, I realize I haven’t done anything. The files won’t upload. Searches take forever,” he complains.
For him, the order of priorities is clear: “2G, 3G, and 4G must work properly first before introducing 5G.”
Ndayizigiye, a journalist, webmaster, and community manager at the Burundi News Agency (ABP) observes a gradual decline: “Before, I could work from home. Now, I can’t even upload a photo. The signal bars are there, but the internet connection is terrible,” he explains. “We talk about 5G, but basic internet access is already a daily struggle,” he adds.
These individual accounts serve as a reminder that Digital Public Infrastructure is not an abstract concept. Their failure translates concretely into academic delays, professional losses and neither a silent exclusion of those who have neither technical alternatives nor means of circumvention.
Between Technological Promise and Social Reality
The question therefore remains: is 5G a structural solution or a technological stopgap? In a country where service quality remains unstable, and where the dominant operator holds the lion’s share of the market, digital transformation cannot be limited to mere announcements.
When Slowness Becomes a Legal Issue
But beyond the daily outages and frustrations, the situation raises a genuine question of digital law. According to Kankindi, launching 5G while 2G, 3G, and 4G networks remain unreliable can be legally questionable. « Telecommunications law rests on a fundamental principle: the continuity and quality of service. An operator is obligated to provide an effective service that meets their stated commitments before promoting a more advanced technology, » she explains.
The issue of data billing is even more sensitive. Many internet users activate internet plans without actually being able to access the services, only to receive notifications indicating that their entire data allowance has been used up. “Charging for data without actual internet access is tantamount to an abusive, even deceptive, practice. The consumer pays for a service that is not provided, which violates basic consumer protection principles, also applicable in Burundi,” the expert emphasizes.
From a legal standpoint, the burden of proof is clear: “In case of dispute, it is up to the operator to demonstrate actual data consumption, not the subscriber. Transparency and traceability of billing are legal obligations,” she explains.
For the expert, this situation justifies firm intervention from the regulator and a simple principle: “no billing without a truly accessible service.”
5G or mirage?
Despite the slow speeds and outages, Matore continues to study. “When the connection drops, I start again: sometimes late at night, sometimes at dawn. Giving up is not an option,” he says, while his eyes are glued to a screen that freezes far too often.
Ndayizigiye, for his part, continues to inform. “An article that doesn’t go out on time means information that doesn’t reach the public. But here, we’re learning to work with digital uncertainty,” he explains.
Their resilience underscores a fundamental truth: digital technology isn’t about dignity, access, and equality. “Having internet access isn’t a luxury; it’s a right for studying and working,” Matore insists.
If 5G is to deliver on its promises, it must be part of a broader vision: that of a stable, accessible, and equitable internet, before it is fast. “Speed is useless if the connection isn’t reliable,” Ndayizigiye asserts.
It is this very paradox that highlights a crucial challenge for Digital Public Infrastructure in Africa. It’s a true balancing act: how to accelerate the pace of technology without bringing institutions along the way? On the one hand, the urgency of modernity pushes us to rush things. On the other hand, the risk is that a promising vision of inclusion will turn into a brutal factor of exclusion. Indeed, if we move too fast, we end up building a two-tiered system where only the privileged benefit from progress, leaving the most vulnerable behind in the digital age.
To succeed in this endeavor, it’s not simply a matter of deploying cables and algorithms, but rather of patiently building trust and adapting the rules of the game to the pace of society; because, ultimately, technology that advances without human intervention is no longer a tool for development, but a new barrier.
Under Regulatory Scrutiny
For a long period, operators evolved in a regulatory environment that was still taking shape. The services offered could therefore vary in quality. Today, the era of light regulation is coming to an end. “The sector is entering a phase of stricter regulation,” says Prosper Bizimana, consultant to the Telecommunications Regulation and Control Agency.
This turning point is based on two texts adopted in 2026. Ordinance No. 540/1029 regulates Quality of Service (QoS) and User Experience (QoE). Ordinance No. 540/906 governs the use of SIM cards. Together, they define precise technical standards and measurable obligations.
From now on, the regulator is no longer limited to observation. They can sanction. Throughput, latency, availability or stability: each indicator is evaluated. In the event of a breach, a fine can reach BIF 150,000 per cell and per assessment period.
Another major development: the real experience of the subscriber is taken into account. An unstable connection, insufficient bandwidth or a prolonged activation time may result in penalties. The aim is to align technical performance with user experience.
Transparency also becomes mandatory. Operators must submit their technical reports and publish their quarterly results. In the event of refusal, they face fines ranging from 20,000 to more than BIF 200,000.
According to the consultant, this system reflects a clear desire: to strengthen the responsibility of players in the sector and place the user at the center of obligations.
He points to Starlink as the external force that could fast-track the transformation. “New technological competition can push operators to quickly improve their performance,” he expresses his belief.
Burundian youth in particular, and internet users in general, are not asking for the impossible. At heart, they are simply calling for a reliable internet connection to work, create, learn and, quite simply, exist in a world that is now digital. It must be clearly understood that an unstable or almost nonexistent connection is not merely a technical inconvenience: it is, in reality, a missed opportunity, a lost income, even a dream put on hold.
Indeed, at a time when professional futures are built online, depriving users of stable access amounts to nothing less than closing doors that are already scarce. That is why it is urgent for operators to finally hear this silent cry. Likewise, it is crucial that the legal framework does not remain a mere promise on paper. For, after all, behind every weak signal lie very real ambitions that, despite the obstacles, refuse to fade away.