• Chad exploring telecom partnership with Ethiopia’s Ethio Telecom
• Talks cover 4G/5G networks, cloud, devices and digital finance
• Initiative aims to address Chad’s low connectivity and infrastructure gaps

The Chadian government is exploring a strategic partnership with Ethiopia’s state-owned telecom operator Ethio Telecom to accelerate digital development, as authorities seek to modernize communications infrastructure and expand access to digital services.

The potential collaboration was discussed last week on the sidelines of Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, where Ethio Telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamru met Boukar Michel, Chad’s Minister of Telecommunications, Digital Economy and Digitalization of Public Administration. Michel and his delegation visited Ethio Telecom’s exhibition stand, where they were briefed on the company’s digital transformation initiatives and advanced solutions extending beyond basic connectivity.

Areas of possible cooperation include telecom infrastructure development, the rollout of high-speed 4G and 5G networks, cloud infrastructure, digital financial services, and initiatives to improve access to internet-enabled devices.

Tamru said Ethio Telecom was ready to share its expertise to support digital transformation across Africa. As a next step, she proposed sending a technical delegation to Chad to assess the country’s telecom infrastructure and explore ways the company could contribute to the government’s digitalization agenda.

Chad’s Structural Digital Challenges

Chad faces significant structural constraints in its telecom and digital sector. One of the most critical is its landlocked geography, which limits access to international bandwidth needed for internet services. The country currently relies on a single international connection through Cameroon — a vulnerability that directly affects service availability nationwide.

Although authorities plan to diversify connectivity routes through Algeria, Nigeria, Niger, Libya and Egypt, the strategy has yet to materialize.

Consumers also face declining service quality. Chad’s telecom regulator, the Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes (ARCEP), conducted its 15th Quality of Service audit between September and October 2025 and identified widespread deficiencies, including faulty equipment, inadequate maintenance, power failures and non-functional sites in some areas. Infrastructure vandalism remains a recurring problem.

Network coverage also lags behind regional benchmarks. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 2G coverage reached 86.9% of Chad’s population in 2024, compared with 94.1% across Africa and 98.1% globally.

3G coverage stood at 84.5%, while 4G reached 60%. Adoption rates remain low. Internet penetration stood at 12.6%, while mobile telephony penetration reached 44.3%.

To address these gaps, the government plans to invest $1.5 billion through its “Tchad Connexion 2030” programme. The initiative aims to expand network coverage, connect the majority of the population and digitize public services to enable widespread access to e-government services.

The scale of the challenge is reflected in Chad’s global ranking. The country placed 189th out of 193 countries in the United Nations’ 2024 E-Government Development Index (EGDI), with a score of 0.1785 out of 1, well below the African average of 0.4247 and the global average of 0.6382.

Ethio Telecom: A Continental Benchmark

Ethio Telecom is Africa’s largest telecom operator by single-market subscriber base, reporting 87.1 million subscribers as of end-December 2025. The total includes 84 million mobile subscribers, about 50 million internet users, and 58.6 million users of its mobile money platform Telebirr.

The company has rapidly expanded its infrastructure, particularly in rural areas, with 10,288 telecom sites deployed. 4G coverage now reaches 74% of the population and 27.6% of the country’s territory.

Ethio Telecom’s network includes 23,026.7 kilometers of fiber-optic cable, while international gateway capacity has reached 3 Tbps.

To address power reliability challenges, the operator has invested in diesel generators and solar-powered sites. Its solar generation capacity stood at 30 MW as of end-December 2025.

The company also positions itself as a key driver of Ethiopia’s “Digital Ethiopia 2030” strategy, which seeks to harness technology to support socioeconomic development. Ethio Telecom has developed digital solutions for several government ministries, including Health and Transport, and is building tools to support the digital transformation of local businesses.

“Beyond national borders, we are working to accelerate the “Digital Africa” journey and become a regional role model by creating new opportunities in the global digital economy, providing cross-border services, and enhancing continental collaboration,” the operator said in its 2025/26 Fiscal Year First Half-Year Business Performance Report.

Ethio Telecom’s regional profile is also expanding. Cameroon’s state-owned operator Camtel has approached the company to leverage its expertise in areas including mobile financial services. Rwanda has also engaged Ethio Telecom on its digital education solutions.

Isaac K. Kassouwi