Airtel Chad Invests $90 Million to Supercharge Network Quality
▼ Summary
– Airtel Chad is investing XAF50 billion (US$90 million) to improve network performance and expand digital connectivity across the country.
– The investment includes immediate upgrades to microwave capacity, generators, 4G sites, and fibre infrastructure in N’Djamena.
– Future plans involve connecting key towns with fibre, adding radio services to hundreds of sites, and replacing the core network with Huawei equipment by 2026.
– The plan was submitted to regulator ARCEP following consumer complaints over outages, unstable internet, and high tariffs.
– Airtel has committed to monthly progress reports, while ARCEP has launched a new national audit on service quality.
Airtel Chad has committed a substantial $90 million investment to dramatically improve its telecommunications infrastructure and service quality nationwide. This ambitious initiative directly responds to both regulatory pressure and widespread customer dissatisfaction, aiming to transform the digital experience for users across the country. The comprehensive plan involves a multi-phase rollout of critical network upgrades and significant geographic expansion.
The initial phase of the project focuses on immediate enhancements to boost current network reliability and capacity. Key actions include increasing microwave connection capacity, replacing outdated generators, and expanding radio capacity at 89 existing 4G sites. Furthermore, the company will upgrade router ports in the capital, N’Djamena, to 100G and undertake a modernization of the fibre infrastructure previously managed by the state-owned operator SOTEL.
Looking ahead, a second wave of development is scheduled for completion by January 2026. This stage will see fibre connectivity extended to key towns such as Massakory, Ati, Dop-Dop, and Abéché. An additional 306 sites will receive new radio services, and the third phase of metro fibre deployment in N’Djamena will be launched. By June 2026, the project aims to construct 114 new sites to fill coverage gaps, expand 4G services to 170 more locations, and establish a fibre link connecting N’Djamena to Sarh via Dourbali and Bousso. A significant core network overhaul is also planned, with the existing Ericsson system set to be replaced by equipment from Huawei.
This detailed plan has been formally presented to the national regulator, the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Posts (ARCEP). The authority has been actively pushing operators to better integrate with Chad’s national fibre backbone, spurred by numerous consumer complaints regarding frequent service outages, unstable internet, limited network coverage, and high prices. ARCEP has also noted delays in updating subscriber identification databases.
Airtel’s renewed commitment follows past regulatory penalties, including a $9 million fine levied in August 2023 for failing to meet mandated quality of service standards. To ensure transparency and accountability for this new investment, the company has pledged to submit monthly progress reports on the rollout. Concurrently, ARCEP has initiated its 15th national service quality audit, signaling its continued focus on holding telecom providers accountable and improving the overall customer experience in Chad’s evolving digital landscape.
(Source: MEA Tech Watch)
