Chad: the government is relaunching work on the trans-Saharan fiber optic backbone
May 16th 2023
Work on the Chadian component of the Trans-Saharan fiber optic backbone project had already been launched in 2020 by Idriss Deby, then President of Chad. The completion of the project was to last four years and enable the country to be interconnected with Niger.
On Saturday, May 13, the Chadian government launched work on the Chadian component of the Trans-Saharan fiber optic backbone (DTS). The realization of the project is entrusted to the CGPS/LORYNE Group made up of two Burkinabè companies specializing in telecommunications, construction and energy. The latter will have to install 559 km of optical fiber within ten months.
The high-speed telecom infrastructure will cross the towns of Massaguet, Massakory, Mao, Rig-Rig, Daboua to the border with Niger. In addition, a 50 km metropolitan network will be installed in N’Djamena. The realization of the project should cost 20.5 billion CFA francs (33.9 million USD). It is financed by the European Union and the African Development Bank (ADB). The Chadian State contributes 1.6 billion FCFA.
The DTS project was unveiled in 2016. It aims to strengthen the high-speed telecom infrastructure in Africa by interconnecting several countries, including Algeria, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Chad and the Tunisia. These countries need to accelerate the realization of the project in a context marked by the acceleration of digital transformation and the growing demand for high-speed connectivity.
Allahou Taher, Chadian Minister of State in charge of the Digital Economy, believes that the project will enable Chad to strengthen its national broadband infrastructure. This should also make it possible to improve the quality and the rate of access of the population to the Internet at a lower cost.
According to Data Reportal, Chad had 3.2 million internet users in January 2023, representing an internet penetration rate of 17.9%. During the same period, the number of users of mobile telephony services amounted to 11.5 million, for a mobile penetration rate of 63.9%.
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