14 June 2019

It is claimed that operators were proceeding with the installation of masts without respecting engineering guidelines

 

Telecom operators in Cameroon whose infrastructure fail to adhere to installation norms will be sanctioned and their infrastructure dismantled, the country’s watchdog has warned.

Philemon Zoo Zame, director general of the Telecommunication Regulatory Board (TRB) pointed to Camtel, MTN Cameroon, Orange Cameroun, Nexttel and IHS Cameroon – key owners of telecommunications infrastructures totalling over 5,000 pylons.

The regulator said most of the operators were proceeding with the installation of masts in urban residential areas without respecting engineering guidelines.

Zame claimed operators also failed to adhere to maximum limit of exposure to radiation, height restriction (150m maximum), as well as the distance between masts (750m in residential areas and 2km in other areas) and were reluctant to share network infrastructure.

The TRB added that the unnecessary and incoherent multiplication of transmission pylons and the non-sharing of network infrastructures by telecom operators have a negative impact on the environment, urbanisation, public safety, public health and tariff plans of operators.