• Chad orders telecom operators Airtel and Moov Africa to connect to the national fiber optic network within one week due to poor service quality.
• The directive is part of the PMICE project, which deployed 1,275 km of fiber optic to improve network quality and address consumer complaints.
• Mobile internet costs in Chad are high (8.37% of monthly GNI per capita), exceeding the ITU's 2% affordability threshold.

Chad has ordered mobile operators Airtel and Moov Africa to connect to its national fiber-optic backbone within a week or face potential sanctions, as the government pushes to improve poor telecom services.

Telecom Minister Boukar Michel issued the ultimatum on August 27 during a meeting with executives from both operators. The move follows mounting consumer complaints over frequent outages, unstable internet and high tariffs relative to service quality.

The government has rolled out 1,275 km of fiber under the Communications Infrastructure Modernization and Improvement Project (PMICE) to boost network reliability. “Public expectations for better communication have never been higher, and it is unacceptable to continue like this,” Michel said.

Chad’s mobile coverage remains uneven, with 2024 penetration at 86.9% for 2G, 84.5% for 3G and 60% for 4G, according to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The country has yet to launch 5G.

Affordability also remains a challenge. In 2024, the cheapest monthly broadband plan offering at least 2GB of 3G data cost the equivalent of 8.37% of gross national income per capita, nearly double Africa’s 2023 average of 4.48% and far above the ITU’s 2% affordability benchmark.

This article was initially published in French by Adoni Conrad Quenum

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum

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