Burkina Faso: Parliament recommends revision of telecoms law
December 22nd 2020
Following the investigation initiated last March by Parliament in the mobile telephony sector, after several consumer complaints, some regulatory adjustments were recommended to the government. They include, among other things, access to telecom services and national security.
On Thursday, December 17, the parliamentary commission of inquiry into the mobile telephone system made 33 recommendations to the government of Burkina Faso. These recommendations, according to the parliamentary team, require an amendment to the law on the general regulation of electronic communications networks and services.
This modification must include, among other things, a maximization of investment so that white areas are covered, stronger sanctions against operators who violate their specifications.
The Commission presented to the National Assembly the conclusions of its three months of investigation into the national telecoms market. In several areas (in particular the coverage of the territory; the quality of service offered by Orange, Telmob and Telecel; consumer satisfaction and the safety of the populations) it has identified several weaknesses.
In view of the current security context in the country, marked by jihadist attacks, the Commission also recommended a modification of the law governing intelligence so that it better integrates the contribution of mobile telephone companies to the security of the country.
The President of the National Assembly, Alassane Bala Sakandé, has also expressed his desire to see the country acquire telecoms traffic control software. He lamented the fact that ” without this software, the telephone companies will always roll the state in the flour “.
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