22 July 2025

Cameroon’s telecommunications regulatory authority has imposed a combined fine of approximately 2.6 billion CFA francs on the country’s two leading mobile operators, MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroon.

The penalties, announced publicly on July 7 by TRB Director General Philémon Zoo Zame, stem from violations related to coverage, service quality, and pricing commitments.

The fines follow inspections conducted between April and May 2024 along major corridors — including Yaoundé-Mbalmayo-Ebolowa-Kyé-Ossi — and in key cities such as Yaoundé and Douala. The regulator examined both the network performance and the operators’ adherence to license obligations, revealing notable deficiencies.

Orange Cameroon was fined a total of 1.6 billion CFA francs: 1.4 billion CFA francs for failing to meet coverage and quality standards, and an additional 200 million CFA francs for irregularities in pricing transparency and non-compliance with regulations. The violations included malfunctioning opt-out codes for value-added services — an issue directly affecting consumer rights — and concerns over unfair pricing practices.

MTN Cameroon received a fine of 1 billion CFA francs for similar shortcomings in network coverage and service delivery.
Zame emphasized that these actions underscore the regulator’s commitment to enforcing service quality and consumer protection: “laxity in meeting regulatory obligations will not be tolerated.”

Both telcos had not issued public comments on the fines as of the publication date. This enforcement signals Cameroon’s broader efforts to strengthen telecom sector regulation amid rapid digital growth and increasing consumer expectations.