10 July 2025
The government of Chad is taking steps to revive Salam, the country’s former public mobile operator backed by the Chadian Telecommunications Company (SOTEL). A key initial move will see the launch of 200,000 SIM cards in the coming days, signalling a renewed effort to re-establish the operator’s presence in the market.
The announcement was made by Boukar Michel, Chad’s Minister of Telecommunications, Digital Economy, and Digitalisation, during a meeting held at SOTEL’s headquarters in N'Djamena. The meeting brought together SOTEL staff and senior management to assess the company’s current challenges and discuss strategies for its recovery.
This initiative is part of the broader Electronic Communications Infrastructure Modernisation Project (PMICE), funded by the World Bank, which aims to bridge the digital divide, enhance connectivity, and improve access to public services across Chad. The relaunch of Salam is seen as a significant step within this framework, with the expectation that increased market competition will benefit consumers.
“With the upcoming launch of Salam, where 200,000 SIM cards will be delivered soon, it’s now up to SOTEL to develop a robust marketing and communications plan to breathe new life into the company,” said Minister Boukar Michel.
While details on the timeline remain unclear, the re-entry of Salam could potentially shake up Chad’s telecom landscape, which is currently dominated by Moov Africa and Airtel. The government’s move aims to restore a national operator’s role, foster competition, and expand digital access, but whether Salam can regain a significant market share will depend on internal capabilities and market conditions.
