Onatel reports revenue of FCFA 66.997 billion in the first half of 2026, almost unchanged year on year. Net income rises 6.4% to 18.488 billion, according to the report and auditors' certificate released on the BRVM on 1 October.
Lower costs support earnings
Operating costs are reduced to FCFA 39.081 billion, a decline of 3.9%. Operating income stands at 27.917 billion, up 6.4%. The Burkinabè operator says income from internet and leased lines offsets the decline in voice.
The report thus shows an improvement in earnings with broadly stable revenue. By our calculation, the net margin is around 27.6% of revenue, compared with around 26% in the comparable period. This reflects a larger share of revenue retained as half-year profit.
The breakdown of uses matters as much as their total
For a telecoms operator, stable revenue can mask shifts between activities. The decline in one service and the growth in another must be weighed against their own costs, as well as the investment needed to run them.
Monitoring the company therefore means distinguishing commercial momentum from cost trends. A reduction in spending supports earnings for the period; but business continuity also depends on maintaining capacity and service quality.
Upcoming accounts will show whether this split between voice, data and other services continues. The report to end-June is the accounting benchmark for comparing these trends over a period of the same length.