(Ecofin Agency) - The minister of Posts, Information Technologies, Communication and Media, Nestor Bankumukunzi, visited the National Office of Telecommunications (ONATEL) of Burundi on 15^th September 2015.

At the end of this visit, the minister lamented the dilapidated aspect of the equipment of the national telecoms operator, recognising that this situation ensues from the absence of investment for some years now. A lack of investment which comes from the financial weakness of the company, not able to generate enough revenues.

As Nestor Bankumukunzi explained, everything is linked to the difficult situation that the national operator is currently experiencing. The lack of investment in Onatel is caused by its financial weakness which comes from the obsolescence of the equipment. A dilapidation which in turn is at the root of the bad quality of a service which consumers have been staying away from to the benefit of services from mobile operators.

A recapitalisation of the company would be needed to revive the whole operation. Hence the privatisation started in 2009, but which has not progressed much.

Once this recapitalisation is done, there would be the need for a new management, a new trade and marketing policy, new services and a network quality up to par with international standards to enable the company to again be attractive to Burundians and remain present in the long term in a telecom market which has become very competitive.