Communications regulators from the East African Community (EAC) making up the East African Communications Organization (EACO) on Monday began a five-day congress to look at ways of easing communications and radio development in the EAC bloc.

Speaking at the official launch of the congress, Burundian Communication and Telecommunications Minister Concilie Nibigira said the communications sector still faces challenges. "Challenges still hampering the effectiveness of the broadband include international traffic regulations whereby tariffs have not yet been negotiated," Nibigira told congress persons from the five EAC countries including Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

The Burundian minister expressed her hope that those challenges would be discussed during the congress. She pledged Burundi is doing all it can to make "dynamic" the sector of communications through moving from the analog system to the digital system. Nibigira also said the installation of the submarine cable delayed because Burundi does not have access to the sea, but stressed the east African nation is doing its best to get connected to it before the end of this year.