Telecom regulators in Chad and Zambia have raised alarms over persistent quality of service (QoS) issues in their mobile communication networks, calling out major operators for underperformance and inadequate infrastructure investment.
In Chad, the regulatory authority ARCEP completed its 15th national audit, revealing that operators Moov Africa and Airtel Chad are failing to meet national QoS standards. Moov Africa scored 123.86 points out of 200, while Airtel scored just 98.35. The audit, which covered the entire country for the first time, found widespread equipment faults, poor maintenance, energy supply problems, and even entire sites that were out of service. ARCEP noted that network reliability has long been a source of frustration for consumers, who frequently struggle to make calls or access the internet.
While the regulator has not yet announced sanctions, it previously fined Airtel Chad XAF5 billion (US$8.8 million) in 2023 for failing to meet investment commitments. Despite that, service quality remains poor. Airtel has since pledged XAF50 billion (US$87.5 million) to improve its network by June 2026.
In Zambia, the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA) issued a public statement condemning the “persistent deterioration” in telecom service quality, calling it a threat to the nation’s digital transformation agenda and economic competitiveness. ZICTA has issued binding directives requiring all mobile operators and tower companies to expand capacity, improve coverage in rural areas, install reliable backup power systems, and adopt sustainable energy solutions. The regulator warned that it “will not hesitate to invoke its regulatory powers” against non-compliant operators.
These developments underscore growing regulatory pressure in Sub-Saharan Africa as governments push for higher service standards and infrastructure resilience amid rising digital demand.
