Given the importance of the telecommunications sector for the social and economic development of Madagascar, the Government carried out a first reform in 1993 with the separation of the telecommunications post.

Subsequently, telecommunications proved to be a key factor for success in all sectors of the economy, and a second reform was initiated in 1996 with a view to liberalizing the sector and ending the monopoly of the State, which was no longer able to keep pace with technological advances.

The 1996 Law established the Malagasy Office for the Study and Regulation of Telecommunications (OMERT), whose main role is to provide regulatory functions enabling all operators involved in the sector to develop their activities in accordance with the regulations in force.

As of April 1, 2015, OMERT has been replaced by the ARTEC (Communication Technology Regulatory Authority) which, in addition to telecommunications, also supports information and communication technologies.

The telecommunications sector in Madagascar currently has 12 operators providing the following services:

- Fixed telephony service provided by the incumbent TELecom MAlagasy (TELMA)

- GSM and Internet standard mobile telephony service offered by the four operators: Orange Madagascar, Airtel Madagascar, Telma mobile, Gulfsat/Blueline

- Telecommunications service offered by Iridium Africa Services Corporation

- Data transmission service offered by Telma Global Net and Gulfast Madagascar

- Internet service provided by the two Internet service providers Blueline and Telma Global Net

- Other telecommunication services, such as the electronic payment processing service by the Monetics Treatment Center of Madagascar (CTMM), the provision of the IRIDIUM satellite mobile telephone service by GLOBAL Plus, the resale of mobile telephone, SMS and data provided by BLUELINE, the provision of INMARSAT and IRIDIUM-type mobile telecommunications services by VIA SPACE MADAGASCAR.

Telephone Net Work: Fast growing network from three different companies

For information on Madagascar Telecommunications contact and additional details, please see the following links:

4.11 Madagascar Additional Supplier Contact List

Telecommunication Regulations

Procedures for NGOs wishing to submit an application for frequency allocation:

-       Request to use the HF and VHF frequencies to be sent to the Director of Frequency Management and Numbering.

-       Filing of the attached form duly completed with the application quoted above (in annexe)

-       Payment of fees and frequency fees mentioned in the proforma invoice according to the data in the form.

Existing Humanitarian Telecoms Systems

As per today, no Telecom Humanitarian system in existing yet. The local ICT Working group (UN agencies, NGOs, Government) are in the process of setting it up, and it will be co-managed by the Ministry of Telecommunication and the BNGRC

WFP is leading the ETC services for the other agencies, a network of frequencies

Internet Service Providers (ISPs)

Madagascar is currently in the age of high speed broadband through the two major international capacity providers. With the expendable capacity of 8.3 Gbps and 10 000 Km long, the fibre optic submarine EASSY (East Africa Submarine System) currently connects the Big Island with East Africa, the Indian Ocean and the rest of the world .

With 2 segments, LION (Lower Indian Ocean Network) the first one connecting Mauritius and Reunion, and the second one Reunion to Madagascar, with over 1 000 Km long and with a capacity of up to 2.3Gbps. Mauritius and Reunion are the two connection points to the SAT-3 / WASC / SAFE linking itself from Europe to Asia via southern Africa.

A third cable called FLY come soon in the northwest and will secure simultaneously EASSY and LION by interconnecting Moroni (Comoro), Mahajanga (Madagascar) and Mayotte (Comoro).

Available ISP Providers in Madagascar include: Airtel, Orange, Telma and Blueline (Gulfsat)

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)

Mobile network is quite widespread in the main towns of Madagascar but coverage remains inexistent in the countryside. However, more than half of the population (11.416.599 in 2015) have access to the mobile network and mobile money services are well used by the population.

Depending of the provinces, some operators have a better coverage than their concurrent (ex: Airtel is mostly covering the south while Orange is more spread in the north), but generally Orange is more reliable than the other operator, and has the best quality of service in terms of client orientation.

Regarding the connectivity, it is generally working well in the biggest town or province capitals, but the reliability depends on the availability of power, cut off can happen for some hours or a day in any location.

The Malagasy mobile phone operators are: Orange, Airtel, Telma, Gulfsat (VSAT – Ku Band)

N.B. For the mobile money, while most of the peoples are using this kind of service, the problem for some individuals could be that they must have a National ID prior getting sim card.

For information on MNOs please visit the GSM Association website.