• Chad signs satellite communications cooperation deal with Azerbaijan
• Agreement covers spectrum, GIS, satellite operations, capacity building
• Satellites seen as solution to poor coverage, low internet penetration

Landlocked Chad is exploring cooperation with Azerbaijan to develop satellite communication services. Authorities aim to improve the coverage and quality of telecommunications services while reducing the country’s digital isolation.

This initiative follows a cooperation agreement signed on Thursday, January 29, between Chad’s Electronic Communications and Postal Regulatory Authority (ARCEP) and Azercosmos, the Space Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The agreement was signed during a working visit to Azerbaijan by a Chadian delegation led by Boukar Michel, Minister of Telecommunications, Digital Economy, and Digitalization.

The protocol covers several strategic areas, including radio spectrum management, the development and operation of geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, satellite operations, and ground infrastructure. It also includes the alignment of standards and regulatory frameworks related to space activities and satellite services. The agreement also provides for the development of economic and industrial partnerships, the creation of innovation hubs and digital products, and the training and capacity-building of human resources in the space and digital fields.

For Chad, satellite technology could offer practical solutions to the many challenges in the telecommunications sector. The quality of services provided by local operators is often criticized, with complaints including dropped calls, slow internet connections, frequent outages, and incomplete coverage. Satellites can help carry internet and telephone traffic from isolated areas to the main network, thereby improving the performance and reliability of connections.

They can also help extend network coverage in rural and remote areas where deploying terrestrial infrastructure remains difficult and expensive. According to data from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 2G, 3G, and 4G networks covered 86.9%, 84.5%, and 60% of the population respectively in 2024. In terms of usage, DataReportal estimates the internet penetration rate in the country at 11.3% at the end of 2025.

Satellite technology can also play a key role in efforts by Chadian authorities to overcome the constraints linked to the country’s landlocked position. Without access to the sea, Chad depends on its coastal neighbors to access international capacity, particularly through submarine cables. Currently, this connection passes mainly through a single link with Cameroon. Other links are planned with Niger, Libya, Egypt, Algeria, and Nigeria, which should improve the resilience and capacity of the national network. However, even with these infrastructures, Chad remains vulnerable to disruptions affecting these transit countries in the event of failures or interruptions.

Isaac K. Kassouwi