Airtel Burkina Faso, the local mobile business of Indian telecoms group Bharti Airtel, has applied to the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts (ARCEP) for a license to build and operate a 4G network in the country.

The operator aims to promote the implementation of new services and solutions to improve the lives of local citizens, Fasozine reports, citing its CEO Herve-Olivier Njapoum.

Airtel announced the commercial launch of HSPA+ services in May 2013, allowing customers to enjoy new services such as video-calling, TV and high speed Internet surfing at maximum download speeds of up to 21Mbps. At launch, network coverage was available in the cities of Ouagadougou, Bobo-Dioulasso, Koudougou, Ouahigouya, Banfora and Ziniare.

The company now hopes to offer 4G services to its subscribers.