Faced with the deterioration of the telephone network, Chad is implementing strict measures to remedy the situation. Indeed, Airtel was recently ordered to pay a fine of 5 billion CFA francs for “non-compliance with investment commitments”. This decision follows the numerous problems encountered by the operator’s users, such as disruptions in calls, texts and internet coverage.
Airtel Chad, which has more than 5 million customers, had already admitted last June the defect of its network, described as “mediocre” by some users. Already in April, the Ministry of Telecommunications and Digital Economy had summoned the officials of Airtel and Moov Africa, the two main operators in the country, in order to find solutions to the problems of disruption of the internet connection.
Faced with this recurring situation, the Regulatory Council of the Electronic and Postal Communications Regulatory Authority has decided to take action by imposing a heavy fine on Airtel Chad. According to the authorities, the investments made by the operator are not up to the commitments made in the specifications signed in 2021. It should be recalled that three years ago, all the operators present in Chad also had been punished for the same reasons.
Despite these setbacks, the managing director of Airtel Chad assured in July that major improvements would be made to the network in the next three to six months. The company is counting in particular on the work in progress for the installation of fiber optics in order to offer a better quality of service to its users.
This case highlights the challenges faced by telephone operators in developing countries, where the demand for telecommunications services is growing. It is essential for these companies to ensure regular investment in infrastructure in order to guarantee reliable and quality connectivity to their users. The case of Airtel Tchad also underlines the importance for the regulatory authorities to ensure compliance with the commitments made by the operators, in order to protect the rights of consumers and promote the development of the telecommunications sector.
In conclusion, the deterioration of the telephone network in Chad and the fine imposed on Airtel highlight the issues related to the quality of telecommunications services in developing countries. It is essential for operators to respect their investment commitments and for the regulatory authorities to ensure that these commitments are respected. This situation also highlights the need to invest in telecommunications infrastructure to guarantee reliable and quality connectivity to all users