On 17 April 2025 Burundi's Telecommunications Regulation Authority (ARCT) issued Ministerial Order No. 580/01, strengthening control of radio equipment and terminal equipment connected to public networks. The order reinforces ARCT's supervisory role over the manufacture, sale, import and distribution of telecom and ICT equipment and requires the equipment to carry the ARCT certification label and a customs service label. The labelling requirement is now in force and will be implemented locally by ARCT together with the Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR) and the Burundi Bureau of Standards (BBN).

Requirements

On 26 June 2025 ARCT issued a notice to sellers, importers and users of radio and terminal equipment clarifying the requirements, including:

- equipment must be approved by ARCT before it may be imported, sold or distributed;

- imported consignments require ARCT authorisation;

- sellers must hold a sales certificate issued by ARCT;

- where a manufacturer or a terminal user's agent applies for equipment approval, ARCT authorisation is required.

ARCT stresses that breaches will be penalised. The new rules are intended to strengthen market supervision, ensure only compliant equipment enters the Burundian market, protect consumers and safeguard national communications security.