Banfora: The Ministry of Digital Transition, Posts and Electronic Communications (MTDPCE), through its Directorate General of Electronic Communications, organized an awareness workshop on the "Zero White Zone" Project this Wednesday in Banfora. This meeting brought together administrative, traditional, and religious authorities from the Tannounyan region to promote ownership of this structuring initiative.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the workshop aimed to present the "Zero White Zone" project, to explain its implications for the socio-economic development of Burkina Faso, and to highlight its role in strengthening the resilience of populations in a security context marked by numerous challenges. The meeting also focused on detailing the national program to cover 750 underserved areas, currently being implemented, and requesting support from regional authorities to facilitate the deployment of electronic communications infrastructure. This support includes land acquisition, obtaining administrative permits, and raising awareness among the beneficiary populations.
As part of improving mobile network coverage, the Ministry has planned, for the year 2025, to provide service to 750 rural localities in order to offer electronic communications services to populations not yet covered. This project is jointly funded by the Universal Access and Service Fund (FSU) and the Project for Accelerating Digital Transformation (PACDIGITAL). The official launch took place on September 30, 2025, in Ouahigouya, in the presence of the regional governors. Following this launch, regional workshops are being organized throughout the country to engage with local stakeholders and secure their involvement for successful implementation.
According to the Director of Electronic Communications Regulation, Abdoulaye Mambone, representing the Director General of Electronic Communications, the regional workshop aims to inform local authorities about the project and to mobilize them to promote the support of the population. He specified that 66 localities will be covered in the Tannounyan region, with implementation planned over a period of 8 to 12 months, depending on contract deadlines. Additional sites may be added based on identified needs.
Nationally, the Project is unprecedented in its scale: 750 sites are planned for 2025 and another 750 for 2026, in addition to 138 existing sites. The objective is to ensure complete coverage of the national territory and to provide high-speed internet services, including 4G, to rural populations. In his speech, the governor of the Tannounyan region, Patrice Yeye, president of the regional workshop, stressed that holding this meeting reflects the Government's firm commitment to making access to electronic communications services a right for every citizen, wherever they may be.
He emphasized the strategic importance of the Project, which serves as a lever to strengthen the resilience of populations in the current security context, stimulate the socio-economic development of rural localities, promote digital inclusion, and equitable access to information. The governor also noted that the lack of network coverage poses a risk to some localities, as the absence of communication has sometimes facilitated the actions of armed terrorist groups. While welcoming the commitment of the government and its partners to reduce the digital divide, he reaffirmed the willingness of regional stakeholders to support the implementation of the project and to facilitate the steps necessary for its deployment.
Through the 'Zero White Zone' project, the Burkinabe authorities intend to guarantee each locality effective access to communication services, now considered a key factor in security, social cohesion, and sustainable development.