Tunisia Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in tunisia, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals
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Telecommunications Equipment & Services
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Overview

In 2025, the telecommunications sector launched 5G services and the expansion of submarine cable infrastructure. The introduction of 5G marks a significant milestone, positioning the country as a regional leader in advanced connectivity.  Tunisia is also participating in the Medusa Submarine Cable System, which includes a dedicated fiber-optic link between Bizerte and Marseille. These advancements position Tunisia to host data center services. 

The government meets WTO telecom service sector commitments and provides full market access and national treatment for foreign telecom service providers.  The cellular market opened to foreign competition in the early 2000s; however, no U.S. carrier has actively sought cellular network licenses from the government. Significant business opportunities exist in the telecom sector, particularly in private networks, administrative digitization, cybersecurity, and smart cities.

Leading Sub-sectors

Mobile and Fixed Telecommunication Networks

Mobile services continue to expand, although at a somewhat slower pace than in previous years. The playing field for foreign companies operating in Tunisia remains fair, with no evident competitive advantage for state-owned Tunisie Telecom. Three major operators control the mobile services market. Tunisia’s largest telecom company is Ooredoo Tunisia with 42.9% market share, followed by Tunisie Telecom with 30.4%, and Orange Tunisie at 26.5%. In December 2024, the Tunisian Ministry of Communication Technologies awarded 5G operating licenses to all three operators; 5G mobile services launched in February 2025.

Internet

Stimulated by the Digital Tunisia 2025 program, a five-year national ICT development plan covering 2020 to 2025, several regulatory measures and infrastructure projects are underway to improve internet connectivity. Significant opportunities exist for U.S. companies specializing in telecommunications infrastructure, network optimization, and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.  

As of January 2025, total mobile data subscriptions stood at 10,518,902, with a penetration rate of 87.9%, while fixed data subscriptions totaled 1,827,698, resulting in a penetration rate of 15.3% per 100 inhabitants. The mobile data market is primarily led by the same three operators, with mobile traffic reaching 93,778 terabytes. In terms of fixed data, the majority of traffic (85.4%) comes from wired connections, predominantly ADSL and VDSL. Despite a decrease in overall subscriptions and penetration rates in both sectors, there was notable growth in specific technologies like Fiber to the Home (FTTH).  

Tunisie Telecom is the leading provider of international internet connectivity. The company manages three sub-sea cables, including a 112-mile fiber-optic cable connecting the city of Kelibia in Tunisia with the Italian city of Mazara. Tunisie Telecom is also participating in the Medusa Submarine Cable System, securing a dedicated fiber pair with a capacity of 20 Tbps.  Scheduled for completion in early 2026, the Medusa system will link the Mediterranean to the Atlantic and the Red Sea.  Sub-sea cables have grown international bandwidth capacity to 2,250 gigabytes per second in 2024.  

Opportunities

5G Market

Tunisia’s 5G market is advancing rapidly, presenting significant opportunities for U.S. companies specializing in telecommunications infrastructure, network optimization, and IoT solutions. In December 2024, the Tunisian Ministry of Communication Technologies awarded 5G operating licenses to Orange Tunisie, Ooredoo Tunisie, and Tunisie Télécom, following a tender process. These operators launched their 5G mobile services in February 2025, marking a major milestone in Tunisia’s digital transformation. 

The 15-year licenses include 5MHz of Time Division Duplex (TDD) spectrum in the 700MHz band and 100MHz (TDD) in the 3.5GHz band, with additional frequency bands to be announced in later deployment phases. This rollout creates opportunities for U.S. firms to provide advanced 5G technologies, including edge computing, AI integration, and cybersecurity solutions for 5G networks.  Furthermore, U.S. companies can collaborate with Tunisian operators to enhance network infrastructure, optimize spectrum usage, and develop innovative applications for industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, and smart cities. 

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellites

In March 2025, the National Telecommunications Authority issued a call for proposals to study the viability of satellite internet services, presenting a unique opportunity for U.S. companies specializing in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite technology. This initiative follows successful pilot tests conducted by Starlink in Tunisia in 2023. 

The government’s satisfaction with pilot results positions U.S. companies as strong contenders in this emerging sector.  LEO satellite internet services offer Tunisia transformative potential in bridging connectivity gaps in underserved and rural areas. U.S. firms can leverage this opportunity to provide high-speed internet solutions, support IoT applications, and enable advancements in industries such as agriculture, logistics, and environmental monitoring.   

Resources

Ministry of Technologies Communication
National Agency for Frequencies (ANF)
Tunisian Agency for Cybersecurity
National Authority for Telecommunication
 

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