14 April 2025

This action follows recurrent regulatory breaches and persistent failure to comply with licensing requirements, as detailed by an official from the Telecommunications Regulatory Board (TRB).

The outstanding sum primarily consists of unpaid license fees and various financial penalties accumulated over the years. In a bid to enforce responsibility and adherence to market rules, the TRB is intensifying its recovery efforts, emphasizing the necessity for telecom operators to fulfil their obligations in maintaining a fair and competitive environment.

Justine Diffo, chair of the TRB board, stated that steps have been taken to operationalize the "preferential right of the treasury," which enables the regulator to take coercive actions against debtors.

“The board approved the practical conditions for making the treasury's preferential right operational in a context whereby the TRB has recorded sizeable debts owed by concession operators, licensed operators, and other actors in the telecommunications landscape,” said Diffo.

Although specific companies have not been named, industry sources suggest that major operators such as MTN Cameroon, Orange Cameroon, and state-owned Camtel could be significantly affected, as they have previously incurred sanctions for issues like irregular SIM card registrations and poor network coverage.

In 2023, the TRB imposed penalties totalling 6 billion francs CFA on four telecom companies for ongoing network coverage and quality of service issues. Among these penalties, Orange Cameroon faced the heftiest fine of $3.5 million, followed by Nexttel with $2.4 million, MTN Cameroon with $2.2 million, and Camtel with $1.2 million.

This latest action by the regulator comes in response to growing consumer dissatisfaction regarding call quality, internet speeds, and high mobile service charges. Additionally, it aligns with broader government efforts to enhance the governance of the digital economy and stimulate increased infrastructure investment.