The free-roaming agreement between Burkina Faso and Ghana will allow eligible subscribers to pay home country rates while travelling, cutting mobile costs across the border.
Signed at Digital Week Burkina Faso 2025, the arrangement aligns tariffs for calls, texts, and data. It was concluded alongside cross-border spectrum coordination with Ghana and the Confederation of Sahel States to improve service reliability.
The deal was presided over by Dr Aminata Zerbo Sabane, Minister of Digital Transition, Postal and Electronic Communications, with regulators from Ghana, Mali, and Niger in attendance. ARCEP Burkina will coordinate implementation with operators.
The free-roaming agreement supports regional digital integration and complements ongoing network evolution and spectrum planning.
It also aligns with wider industry moves to improve roaming and consumer protection across West Africa.
Free-roaming agreement: What You Need to Know
- Travellers between Burkina Faso and Ghana will pay domestic rates with no roaming surcharge, backed by regulator-led tariff harmonisation and cross-border spectrum coordination.
Recommended tools for roaming, network and data resilience
- CloudTalk, cloud phone system for distributed teams and cross border support centres.
- KrispCall, virtual numbers and call management tailored for international operations.
- Auvik, network monitoring to maintain quality across multi site deployments.
- Bitdefender, endpoint security to protect devices used while roaming.
- IDrive, secure cloud backup for mobile and remote workers.
- 1Password, enterprise password management for cross border teams.
- Tresorit, encrypted cloud storage for compliant document sharing.
- Tenable Nessus, vulnerability scanning to secure telecom and enterprise networks.
Free-Roaming Agreement
A landmark moment at Digital Week Burkina Faso 2025
Signed during the twentieth edition of Digital Week Burkina Faso 2025, the free-roaming agreement formalises tariff parity for calls, texts, and data when subscribers travel between Burkina Faso and Ghana.
The Burkina Faso-Ghana telecommunications agreement underscores coordinated policy between national regulators to remove surcharge barriers and drive seamless communication.
The free roaming agreement was concluded in the presence of telecom authorities from neighbouring states, signalling momentum for broader regional adoption as operators prepare for increased cross-border traffic.
Tariff parity and user benefits
Under the free-roaming agreement, Burkinabe visitors in Ghana and Ghanaian visitors in Burkina Faso will be billed at domestic rates.
This eliminates roaming surcharges and reduces bill shock for students, traders, families, and officials who frequently cross the Burkina Faso and Ghana border.
The arrangement is expected to increase mobile usage and support digital public services, while complementing ongoing network modernisation and customer experience initiatives.
Stronger cross-border frequency management
Alongside the free-roaming agreement, Burkina Faso concluded a bilateral frequency coordination convention with Ghana and a framework with the Confederation of Sahel States.
These instruments aim to manage the spectrum at borders more effectively, improving mobile performance and television broadcasts through clearer signals and more stable connections.
This cross-border approach supports planned capacity upgrades and lays the groundwork for future 4G and 5G advances in the sub-region. For context on regional rollouts, see 5G in Africa 2025 and Africa telecom evolution 2010 to 2026.
Implementation and coordination
Wendlassida Patrice Compaoré, Executive Secretary of ARCEP Burkina, said delivery of the free roaming agreement hinges on close coordination between operators and regulators.
He highlighted tariff harmonisation that reflects each market’s economic conditions and safeguards for transparent billing and customer support.
ARCEP will monitor service quality and pricing consistency as traffic patterns evolve, working with Ghana’s regulator to resolve interconnect and rating issues quickly.
Regional integration outlook
Minister Dr Aminata Zerbo Sabane called the Burkina Faso-Ghana telecommunications agreement a major step toward inclusive connectivity.
She noted that similar accords with other neighbours could follow, extending the free-roaming agreement model and deepening regional cooperation on digital policy.
As roaming traffic grows, cross-border spectrum management will be central to coverage, capacity, and quality. For market context, see the top telecommunications companies in Ghana.
Further reading on telecom security
As networks interconnect more closely, telecom security and resilience remain crucial for consumers and operators. For broader context, see mobile security guidance for users and organisations from CISA aligned with best practices: CISA mobile security guidance.
For sector sector-wide perspective, review research on telecom targeting: PRC cyber espionage targeting telecom, and insights on network evolution: real 5G cybersecurity risks and opportunities.
Opportunities and challenges for West African connectivity
The immediate advantage is affordability; the free roaming agreement ensures travellers pay local rates, improving access to voice and data.
It strengthens cross-border trade, education, and public services by reducing communication friction. The spectrum conventions should improve reliability, enabling clearer calls and steadier data sessions along border zones.
Execution will require careful alignment of billing, rating, and customer support systems. Tariff harmonisation must reflect economic realities in both markets.
With consistent communication to users, the free roaming agreement can maintain consumer protection and build trust in cross-border services.
Implications for operators and subscribers
The free-roaming agreement benefits subscribers through lower costs and predictable billing.
It also encourages digital adoption for businesses that rely on cross-border coordination, including logistics, retail, and public administration. Operators will gain traffic volume and an opportunity to differentiate on quality and support.
There are challenges. Carriers must manage wholesale settlements and potential revenue shifts from legacy roaming. Border coverage needs investment to handle increased demand.
Clear customer messaging and transparent dispute resolution will be essential to sustain confidence in the free roaming agreement.
Scale secure communications and operations across borders
- CloudTalk, international call routing and analytics for roaming heavy teams.
- Seatti, hybrid work coordination to support distributed cross border staff.
- Plesk, manage multi tenant hosting for regional digital services.
- Foxit PDF Editor, streamline document workflows for remote teams.
- Tresorit for Business, encrypted collaboration for compliance sensitive files.
- EasyDMARC, protect domain reputation for regional communications.
- Tenable One, exposure management for complex telecom footprints.
- Optery, remove personal data from brokers for roaming staff privacy.
Conclusion
Burkina Faso and Ghana have delivered a practical outcome that subscribers will feel immediately. The free-roaming agreement replaces surcharges with domestic rates and advances regional digital integration.
Backed by bilateral and AES spectrum coordination, the Burkina Faso-Ghana telecommunications agreement aims to stabilise service quality as cross-border usage grows. Operators and regulators will test processes and align tariffs.
Sustained success will rely on clear user communication, consistent billing, and transparent oversight. As lessons emerge from Digital Week Burkina Faso 2025, the free roaming agreement may serve as a template for neighbours to follow.
Questions Worth Answering
What changes for travellers under the free roaming agreement?
- Eligible subscribers will pay their home market rates for calls, texts, and data when using services across the Burkina Faso and Ghana border.
Who signed the Burkina Faso-Ghana telecommunications agreement?
- The electronic communications regulators of Burkina Faso and Ghana concluded the arrangement during Digital Week Burkina Faso 2025.
Does this remove all mobile charges?
- It removes roaming surcharges between the two countries. Users are billed at domestic rates according to their existing plans and usage.
How will tariffs be harmonised?
- Regulators and operators will coordinate pricing frameworks that reflect each country’s economic conditions while protecting consumers and ensuring service sustainability.
What spectrum agreements were announced?
- Burkina Faso signed a bilateral frequency coordination convention with Ghana and a framework with the Confederation of Sahel States for cross-border spectrum management.
Could other countries adopt a similar model?
- Officials signalled interest in wider regional cooperation. If implementation proves effective, similar free-roaming agreement frameworks may extend to neighbouring markets.
About ARCEP Burkina
ARCEP Burkina regulates electronic communications and postal services in Burkina Faso. The authority promotes fair competition and protects consumers nationwide.
It oversees licensing, quality of service, interconnection, and spectrum management. ARCEP supports initiatives that expand coverage and affordability.
The regulator collaborates with regional peers to coordinate spectrum use, harmonise tariffs and deliver projects such as the free roaming agreement.
About Dr. Aminata Zerbo/Sabane
Dr Aminata Zerbo Sabane is the Minister of Digital Transition, Postal and Electronic Communications in Burkina Faso. She leads national digital policy and sector reforms.
Her portfolio covers connectivity expansion, service quality, cybersecurity, and regional cooperation with regulators and operators.
At Digital Week Burkina Faso 2025, she championed inclusive access and practical cross-border integration through the free roaming agreement.