Chad Invests €175 Million to Expand National Data Center, Fiber, and Wireless Networks
The project reflects resilience in overcoming challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and transition-related constraints, marking a key step toward a connected and technologically empowered Chad.
The Ministry of Telecommunications, Digital Economy, and Digitalization of Chad has inaugurated Phase I of the State Connectivity Infrastructure Modernization Project (PMICE) in Sarh, Moyen-Chari, marking a significant milestone in the country’s digital transformation. The ceremony, presided over by Dr. Boukar Michel, Minister of Telecommunications, was attended by government officials, traditional and religious leaders, technical and financial partners, and stakeholders from the digital sector.
Dr. Boukar Michel emphasized the strategic choice of Sarh as the host city, highlighting the government’s vision of using digital technology as a tool for territorial equity and national unity. “Digital must not stop at capitals; it must irrigate territories, connect regions and unite the Nation,” he said, underlining connectivity as a core pillar of national development.
Phase I of PMICE represents an investment of €175.1 million (over $188 million) and encompasses three main components: the establishment of a National Data Center, the deployment of a 1,200-kilometer national fiber optic backbone, and the expansion of SOTEL’s wireless network, including dozens of GSM, 3G, and 4G sites across the country. The provisional reception confirms that these infrastructures are now operational and meet the state’s technical and operational requirements.
The minister also acknowledged the strategic vision of President Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, noting that digital sovereignty is a measure of modern statehood. Dr. Boukar Michel stated that fiber optic had become both a national security issue, a tool of modern governance, and a lever for territorial justice.
The inauguration signals Chad’s commitment to modernization, connectivity, and digital sovereignty, with fiber optics forming the foundation for the country’s digital future. The project reflects resilience in overcoming challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and transition-related constraints, marking a key step toward a connected and technologically empowered Chad.
