Maroc Telecom-backed telco the National Office of Telecommunications (Office Nationale des Telecommunications, Onatel) has informed local journalists of its network coverage targets and achievements in Burkina Faso. In terms of fixed line networks, the telco seeks to add some 3,230km of new fibre to its network by early 2019, including 2,800km of inter-city fibre and 430km of urban fibre; the network currently spans 1,500km. The three-phase rollout is expected to cost a total of XOF21 billion (USD36.7 million).
In the mobile sector meanwhile, Onatel intends to install more than 800 new 2G/3G/4G compatible base transceiver stations (BTS), as it seeks to consolidate its footprint. The networks currently deliver wireless coverage to 93% of the population, via 1,300 BTS (up from just 130 in 2006).
Interestingly, the telco also confirmed that some of its CDMA base stations – in service since December 2014 – have yet to register any fixed-wireless traffic, but will not be decommissioned as their deployment represents part of Onatel’s licensing conditions. Onatel claims a total of 186 CDMA base stations, compared to just three in 2006.