Comoros, located off the southeast coast of Africa, is an archipelago consisting of three major islands, with a total land area of about 1,659 sq. km. The nation's population of over 820,000 is distributed unevenly across these islands, posing unique challenges for infrastructure development. Technological advancement is at an early stage, with just over than 27% of the population having access to the internet. Telecommunication infrastructure is also limited, primarily due to the country's challenging topography, sparse population distribution, and resource constraints. However, Comoros has made significant strides in mobile technology, with mobile penetration rates rapidly rising in recent years. Given these circumstances, technology solutions tailored to the Comoran context would ideally be mobile-centric, cost-effective, and designed to operate effectively across varied terrain and with limited resources.
Mobile Network Operators
The are 2 companies operating mobile networks in this region.
Comores Telecom, under the Huri brand, is the incumbent mobile services provider operating in Comoros. Comores Telecom, often shortened to ComTel, is a partially state owned enterprise traditionally the only provider of fixed and mobile services on the country's islands (Grande Comore, Anjounan, and Mohéeil). In 2013 the government of Comoros divested a 51% stake in the company as part of its privatisation initiatives.
Telma Comoros is a telecommunications company operating in the Comoros Islands. The company was launched in December 2015 following Autorite Nationale de Regulation des TIC provided the company an operating licence in October that year. The Telma Group, a Madagascar-based company, holds the majority ownership of Telma Comoros. The Group's involvement in Comoros signifies its strategic expansion in the Indian Ocean region.