• Moov Africa scored 123.86 out of 200 in Chad’s 15th national telecom quality audit, outperforming Airtel’s 98.35.

• The regulator found widespread technical failures and poor maintenance across both operators’ networks.

• Despite repeated warnings, the regulator has not yet imposed new sanctions, though the law allows fines up to 5% of annual revenue or license withdrawal.

Chad’s telecom regulator ranked Moov Africa ahead of Airtel Chad in its latest nationwide audit, even as both operators failed to meet acceptable service quality standards. The two companies jointly serve around 12.5 million subscribers, who frequently complain about poor connectivity and unreliable mobile services.

The Chadian Authority for Electronic Communications and Postal Services (ARCEP) published on November 3 the results of its 15th annual telecom quality audit. Moov Africa scored 123.86 points out of 200, compared to Airtel’s 98.35, according to the regulator’s findings.

ARCEP said the audit revealed widespread deficiencies across both networks, citing malfunctioning equipment, inadequate maintenance, unreliable power systems, and several sites completely out of service in some regions.

“This inspection campaign showed that most of the operators’ equipment is faulty, maintenance is inadequate, and even power systems are problematic,” the regulator said in a Facebook statement.

Director General Haliki Choua Mahamat said this was the first audit to cover the entire national territory. Technical teams traveled more than 10,000 kilometers, performing 563 static and dynamic tests across 77 cities and major highways between September 15 and October 17. Tests assessed 2G, 3G, and 4G coverage, as well as the quality of calls, SMS, and internet access.

The audit comes amid widespread consumer frustration. “Making a phone call or accessing the Internet remains difficult, if not impossible,” ARCEP noted, describing a national outcry over declining service quality.

Although the regulator issued recommendations to improve network performance, it has not yet announced any sanctions. ARCEP had previously said the audit would be used to “compel operators to improve service quality.” Consumers, meanwhile, have demanded tougher enforcement — including fines, deadlines for compliance, or even license withdrawal for non-performing operators.

Under Chadian telecom law, operators who fail to comply with regulatory obligations may be given 30 days to correct violations or face penalties of up to 5% of annual revenue, which can double for repeat offenses. Persistent non-compliance can lead to license suspension or revocation.

In September 2023, ARCEP fined Airtel Chad CFA5 billion ($8.8 million) for failing to meet investment commitments. Despite the penalty, network quality has not improved significantly. Airtel announced in September 2025 a new CFA50 billion investment plan to upgrade its network by June 2026.

This article was initially published in French by Isaac K. Kassouwi 

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum