• Chad to launch 50 telecom sites in N’Djamena
• Government plans 50 km fiber-to-home rollout
• Move follows criticism over poor service quality

Chad’s government this week announced plans to launch 50 new telecom sites in N’Djamena and deploy 50 kilometers of fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network through the state-owned Société des télécommunications du Tchad (SOTEL). The move is part of efforts to strengthen national telecom infrastructure and improve service quality.

Boukar Michel, Minister of Telecommunications, Digital Economy and Digital Transformation of Public Administration, made the announcement on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, during a ceremony organized by ministry staff and affiliated agencies. He did not provide details on the timeline, financing or specific areas to be covered.

The 50 new sites will densify the network in the capital, which accounts for the country’s largest population and a significant share of telecom traffic. The rollout aims to expand coverage and increase capacity. The 50-kilometer fiber extension will broaden the fixed network and enable the gradual connection of households and businesses to high-speed broadband.

Major infrastructure projects nationwide

Other projects are under way, including the rehabilitation of a fiber optic link between N’Djamena and Mberé to diversify international connectivity routes via Cameroon. Authorities are also advancing a broader regional interconnection strategy, with planned links to Niger, Nigeria, Algeria, Libya and Egypt.

The Trans-Saharan Fiber Optic Backbone (DTS), a key component of this strategy, is 60% complete. A national data center is also under construction.

Inspection of the DTS project in Bol, Lake Province, January 2026

At the operator level, Airtel Africa plans to invest 50 billion CFA francs ($90.45 million) in a program running through June 2026. The plan includes reinforcing microwave links, deploying new towers to expand coverage, extending the fiber network and upgrading the core network.

The announcements come amid continued criticism over service quality. Consumers report dropped calls, slow data speeds, frequent outages and patchy coverage. In late December 2025, authorities again reprimanded operators over recurring service disruptions.

The 15th service quality audit, conducted between September and October 2025 by the Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARCEP), found improved signal stability in several urban centers, reflecting recent investment. However, the regulator said significant shortcomings remain, including faulty equipment, inadequate maintenance, unstable power supply and, in some areas, sites that are entirely offline.

Isaac K. Kassouwi