The Chadian government has launched a tender for the award of a fourth mobile licence, and has invited interested parties to submit offers to the Ministry of Post and New Information Technologies (Ministere des Postes et des Nouvelles Technologies de l’Information, MPNTIC) by 5 July 2018. The licence will cover the establishment and operation of 2G, 3G and 4G mobile networks, but further details were not disclosed. Potential bidders may purchase the full tender documents from the regulator for XAF1 million (USD1,793), whilst submitted tenders must be accompanied by a bid bond of XAF100 million.
According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, around 99% of Chad’s mobile market is served by Tigo Chad – part of Luxembourg-based Millicom International Cellular (MIC) – and Airtel Chad, the local unit of Indian telecoms group Bharti Airtel. A state-owned operator, Groupe Sotel Tchad, was estimated to represent the remaining 1%. With roughly six million wireless subscribers at the end of March 2018, cellular penetration in Chad is less than 50% – compared to an average of more than 80% for the region – leaving plenty of room for expansion.