Chad is exploring a strategic partnership with Ethiopia’s state-owned telecom operator, Ethio Telecom, to accelerate the modernization of its digital and communications infrastructure, officials said. The potential collaboration was discussed last week during the Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona, where Ethio Telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamru met with Boukar Michel, Chad’s Minister of Telecommunications, Digital Economy and Digitalization of Public Administration.
During the meeting, Michel and his delegation visited Ethio Telecom’s exhibition stand, gaining insights into the company’s digital transformation initiatives and advanced solutions extending beyond basic connectivity. Areas of potential cooperation include the deployment of high-speed 4G and 5G networks, cloud infrastructure, digital financial services, and improving access to internet-enabled devices across Chad.
Tamru said Ethio Telecom is ready to share its expertise to support Chad’s digital transformation agenda. “We are committed to accelerating digital development across Africa,” she said. As a next step, the Ethiopian operator plans to send a technical delegation to Chad to assess the country’s telecom infrastructure and explore ways to implement targeted interventions.
Chad faces significant structural constraints in its telecom sector. The country’s landlocked geography limits access to international bandwidth, with a single international connection through Cameroon currently serving the entire nation. Although authorities have plans to diversify connectivity routes via Algeria, Nigeria, Niger, Libya, and Egypt, these efforts have not yet materialized.
Service quality has also been a concern. 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, identifying widespread deficiencies, including faulty equipment, inadequate maintenance, power failures, and non-functional sites. Infrastructure vandalism remains a recurring problem.
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Network coverage also lags behind regional benchmarks. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), 2G coverage reached 86.9 percent of Chad’s population in 2024, compared with 94.1% across Africa and 98.1 percent globally. 3G coverage stood at 84.5 percent, while 4G reached just 60 percent. Adoption rates remain low, with internet penetration at 12.6 percent and mobile telephony at 44.3 percent.
To address these gaps, Chad has launched the US$1.5 billion “Tchad Connexion 2030” programme, aiming to expand network coverage, connect the majority of the population, and digitize public services for widespread access to e-government initiatives. Despite these ambitions, the country ranks 189th out of 193 globally in the United Nations’ 2024 E-Government Development Index, with a score of 0.1785, far below the African and global averages.
Ethio Telecom, by contrast, is Africa’s largest telecom operator by single-market subscriber base, reporting 87.1 million subscribers at the end of December 2025. Its network includes 23,026.7 kilometers of fiber-optic cable, 10,288 telecom sites, and international gateway capacity of 3 Tbps. 4G coverage now reaches 74% of Ethiopia’s population, and 27.6% of its territory, while solar and diesel-powered backup generation addresses power reliability challenges.
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The Ethiopian operator is also a key driver of the country’s “Digital Ethiopia 2030” strategy, providing digital solutions for government ministries, local businesses, and expanding its regional influence. Cameroon’s Camtel and Rwanda have engaged Ethio Telecom for expertise in mobile financial services and digital education solutions, reflecting its growing continental profile.
For Chad, partnering with Ethio Telecom offers a potential roadmap to rapidly expand connectivity, enhance digital services, and build resilient infrastructure. Officials said the partnership could accelerate the nation’s digital ambitions, particularly in telecommunications, cloud services, and mobile financial inclusion, bridging long-standing structural gaps and laying the foundation for broader economic growth.
If implemented, the Chad–Ethio Telecom collaboration could become a model for cross-border knowledge sharing and technology transfer across Africa, demonstrating how regional operators can support digital transformation in lower-penetration markets.
