16 November 2020

The alignment of tariffs reflects the government’s desire to increase competition in the national telecoms market for the benefit of consumers

The Chadian government has taken strong measures to increase competition in the national telecoms market via the country’s watchdog.

It aligned the intra and inter-network tariffs on October 18 and is also preparing the introduction of mobile number portability.

Chad’s Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques et des Postes (ARCEP) has made public the decision aligning the “off-net and on-net” tariffs charged by mobile phone operators. From now on, consumers will pay FCFA90 for intra-network and inter-network calls. Operators are required to apply this decision as soon as possible, underlines the regulator.

The alignment of telecom tariffs reflects the government’s desire to increase competition in the national telecoms market for the benefit of consumers. By applying the same rates, Airtel and Tigo will only have quality of service as a battleground to convince the population.

In addition to tariff alignment, the government’s desire to increase competition in the quality of service was reflected a few days earlier by the signing, by the head of state Idriss Deby, of the decree on the obligation of portability of mobile phone numbers. Number portability is provided for in article 58 of law n ° 14 of March 21, 2014 on electronic communications.

ARCEP is responsible for ensuring the definition and implementation of the terms and conditions for number portability and will settle the related disputes. It will set up, in conjunction with telecom operators, the appropriate system to allow consumers to keep their numbers in the event of a change of operator.