3.5 Chad Telecommunications | Digital Logistics Capacity Assessments

For information on Chad telecommunication contact details and duty descriptions , please see the following links:

The recent discovery of oil, resulting in a 38% GDP growth, is set to bring Chad some of the foreign investment it urgently needs to upgrade its telecom facilities and other infrastructure. The country has some of the world's lowest penetration rates for fixed-line, mobile and Internet services. Competition exists only in the mobile sector. Despite impressive growth, one of the then two mobile networks in the country ceased operations in mid-2004 due to an unresolved dispute with the government, but a third licence was awarded in November of the same year with operations commencing in October 2005. Internet usage increased fourfold in 2004. Other expected developments moving into 2006 include the partial privatisation of the national operator, Sotel Tchad.

Exact numbers of subscribers for landline and mobile network is: 13 000 subscribers for landline, 4 000 for Tawali (SOTEL mobile telephone network) and 830.000 for both mobile telephone operators (530 000 for Celtel / Zain and 300 000 for Tigo)
Landline phone network is managed by SOTEL Tchad and is satisfactory. Communications are good and reliable. Hacking of lines and communications is possible.

Telephone Services
Is there an existing landline telephone network? (Yes / No)	Yes
Does it allow international calls? (Yes / No)	Yes
On average, number and length of downtime periods	n/a
Mobile phone providers (List)	TIGO, ZAIN
Estimated availability and coverage (Approximate percentage of national coverage)	n/a

Telecommunication Regulation

OTRT is attached to the Ministry of Post and was created by law 09/PR/98 of August 17th 1998. All telecommunication equipments’ imports are subjected to acceptance by Ministry of Interior and Public Security and technical agreement by OTRT (via Ministry of Post).
Are concerned all HF / VHF / VSAT equipment. Though many NGOs and local authority use some, Thuraya Satellite Telephone is NOT ALLOWED in Chad.

Regulations
Regulations on usage or import of:	Yes / No	Regulating Authority
Satellite	Yes	OTRT
HF Radio	Yes	OTRT
UHF/VHF/HF radio: handheld, base and mobile	Yes	OTRT
UHF/VHF repeaters	Yes	OTRT
GPS	Yes	OTRT
VSAT	Yes	OTRT
Individual Network Operator Licenses Required
n/a
Frequency Licenses Required
The National Management Frequencies office (Bureau de Gestion National des Frequences) attributes frequencies and issues invoices. Request forms are available online on: http://www.logcluster.org/ All equipment must be declared.

NOTE: Procedures for the importation of ICT Equipment:

Import permit request to the Ministry of Interior and Public Security, addressed to the Minister, with detailed specifications (brand, technical spec.) and place where will be used (program, location). Request is given to the Ministry of Post, technical consent by OTRT. Ministry of Post gives agreement letter to the Ministry of Interior and Public Security that gives an import authorization. For VSAT, Ministry of Post also takes a decree to authorize use of equipment. (valid also for local purchase)

For information on Chad frequency licences additional details, please see the following document:

Chad Additional information on Frequency Licenses

Note: The information provided in the attached documents, which has been taken from the old DLCA, does not match the structure of the new LCA and is therefore provided separately.

Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems

Existing UN Telecommunication Systems
Organisations	UN	NGO	ICRC
VHF frequencies	Yes	Yes	Yes
HF frequencies	Yes	Yes	Yes
Repeaters (Locations)	Yes	Yes	Yes
VSAT	Yes	Some of them	Yes