• Madagascar renews disaster management partnership with Yas
• Yas serves 14.6 million subscribers, 68% market share
• Deal strengthens emergency alerts via SMS and digital platforms

Madagascar's National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC) and telecom operator Yas Madagascar announced the renewal of their partnership on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, under the Private Sector Humanitarian Platform. The collaboration aims to strengthen disaster prevention and management, with a particular focus on disseminating official information to the public.

Yas's selection reflects its dominant position in Madagascar's telecommunications market, where it serves 14.6 million subscribers, representing a 68 percent market share according to the most recent 2024 data.

"This agreement strengthens the strategic collaboration between the private sector and the state, particularly in disaster and risk management, ranging from emergency preparedness to rehabilitation and reconstruction," the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management said.

In a country regularly hit by cyclones, floods and other climate hazards, the speed of alert transmission has become critical. The BNGRC retains responsibility for producing official information, while Yas provides its technical infrastructure, including mass SMS, phone calls and digital platforms, to ensure broad national coverage.

The partnership illustrates the growing role of telecom operators in civil defense systems, where digital infrastructure is now considered essential for limiting loss of life and improving coordination of relief efforts. During cyclone season, rapid mobilization of communications networks can help strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities.

Beyond emergency response, the agreement represents a broader push toward public-private cooperation aimed at consolidating the national disaster resilience framework amid heightened climate vulnerability.

Adoni Conrad Quenum