Burkina Faso’s Telecom Paradox: Demanding Better Coverage While Rejecting New Towers
June 30th 2026
- Burkina Faso is training local officials to help communities support telecom tower deployment
- The government aims to address misinformation that has slowed network expansion
- Better cooperation could improve mobile coverage and access to digital services
Burkina Faso’s telecommunications regulator on Monday, June 29, launched a four-day workshop aimed at strengthening the role of local authorities in the deployment of telecom infrastructure. The initiative seeks to address resistance from some communities to the installation of telecom towers, even as those same communities regularly complain about inadequate network coverage and poor mobile service quality.
Through the workshop, which follows similar initiatives, the Burkinabe government aims to turn local administrators into “digital ambassadors.” They are expected to serve as facilitators, community mediators and trusted sources of information, helping communities better understand the importance of telecommunications infrastructure.
During the workshop, participants are receiving training on the legal and institutional framework governing electronic communications, administrative rights of way on public roads, regulations and scientific evidence relating to non-ionizing radiation, environmental rules for infrastructure deployment, and the role of the Universal Access and Service Fund (FASU) in expanding digital inclusion.
Community Resistance
Wendlassida Patrice Compaoré (pictured, left), executive secretary of ARCEP, said communities often oppose the installation of telecom towers because of environmental concerns or misinformation about the effects of non-ionizing radiation. The municipalities of Bittou, Koudougou, Loumbila, Ouahigouya, Ouagadougou, Réo and Bobo-Dioulasso are among those most affected by these deployment challenges.
“Projects to install telecom towers are sometimes delayed, suspended or abandoned because of misunderstandings, reluctance or concerns expressed by urban populations,” he said, as quoted by Burkinabe media outlet Lefaso.net.
Some of this opposition is fueled by misinformation that attributes harmful health effects to non-ionizing radiation. The rollout of 4G networks and, more recently, 5G has heightened concerns in some communities.
International guidelines set limits on public exposure to electromagnetic fields. For frequencies between 2 GHz and 300 GHz, which are used by telecommunications networks, the International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) recommends exposure limits of 61 volts per meter (V/m) for electric fields and 10 watts per square meter (W/m²) for power density under continuous exposure.
These limits are incorporated into the International Telecommunication Union’s ITU-T K.91 recommendation and are intended to prevent known health effects. According to the ICNIRP, exposure above these thresholds can heat body tissues and potentially cause adverse health effects. The recommended limits also include substantial safety margins designed to protect the entire population, including the most vulnerable groups.
Opposition Is Only Part of the Problem
Resistance from some communities prevents operators from installing new telecom towers, contributing to gaps in network coverage and weaker service quality. Where coverage is unavailable or inadequate, residents continue to face difficulties accessing basic digital services.
According to official figures from August 2024, mobile network coverage in Burkina Faso stands at 85%, compared with 64% for 3G internet services and 46% for 4G. About 28.3% of the population used the internet in 2024, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), while mobile phone penetration stood at 63.9%.
Community resistance is not the only factor behind poor service quality. Infrastructure vandalism, insecurity in parts of the country, telecom operators’ investment levels, and constraints related to maintaining and servicing network equipment also continue to affect network coverage and performance.
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