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Hence, there was a need therefore, to bring CAMTEL into compliance with the laws and regulations in force, materialized by the granting of 3 separate operating systems. As of now, CAMTEL has licensed specifications that define the conditions for establishing and operating the various electronic communications networks.
According to reliable sources, the above conceptions define obligations relating to the quality of service and experience. The said obligations incorporate the quality parameters that will be subject to control by the regulator. Moreover, the new operator will henceforth have minimum obligations for coverage and network deployment of the concessionaire on national territory, throughout the concession period. In addition, with regard to the pricing policy of the concessionaire, Camtel takes into consideration to follow the rules which will enable it to achieve reasonable final prices for consumers. In addition, according to Ohada rules, the new operator has undertaken to build up the company’s share capital.
Abandoned liquidation
First and foremost, it was listed by the State in the liquidation and rehabilitation portfolio, for over 20 years thatCamtel suspended its investments when other operators entered the market and invested more to conquer market shares in order to consolidate their notoriety. The lack of investment has severely slowed the growth of this company.
However, in recent years, the State has resumed investments in structuring projects, to reposition CAMTEL on the electronic communications market. As one could illustrate, we can cite the Backbone phase 1, 2 and 3 projects, the National Broadband Network, NBN program, the Mobile Communications Network, MCN program, the various submarine cable landing points, amongst other.
The liquidation process abandoned caused the delay experienced, by CAMTEL compared to its main competitors. As a result, the legislator then introduced in 2010, the law on electronic communications article 97, to allow CAMTEL to benefit its right from securities operating for the exercise of activities forming part of its corporate purpose. Hence, on March 12, 2020, CAMTEL came into line with this legislation and created new perspectives.
Looking at a historic moment, it is worthy to note that in the wake of the promulgation of law n ° 98/014 of July 14, 1998, devoting the liberalization of the telecommunications sector in Cameroon, the telecommunication company, CAMTEL was created by decree n ° 98 / 198 of September 8, 1998, with the corporate purpose of deploying telecommunications infrastructure and providing related services. The operator functioned without any permit to operate until 2003, when the State granted it on November 14, 2003, a provisional concession agreement of fixed telephone networks and services, for a period of two years which it wasrenewable once. The said concession later expired in 2007 and till date, CAMTEL has not been opportune to benefit from a formal license to operate, in a competitive environment and a fixed telephony and transport network.
This therefore explains sources to the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Minpostel, despite Article 97 of Law No. 2010/013 of December 21, 2010 governing electronic communications in Cameroon and its subsequent amendments, it provides that; “public telecommunications and information and communication technology companies, existing on the date of promulgation of this law, shall automatically benefit from the concession for the exercise of activities related to their corporate purpose and secondly, any development of these companies must be approved by the President of the Republic ”. It was more than ever necessary to grant CAMTEL formal exploitation titles.
The challenge of transparency and fairness
The new concessions which were awarded to CAMTEL will go a long way to induce an internal reorganization of the telecommunication company into a Business Unit, in charge of managing each of the new concessions. « These Business Units, in the medium term, that is to say within a period of 3 years, should lead to a mature functional separation,” CAMTEL whispered toMinpotel.
More so, this could be a stepping stone to the setting up of subsidiaries, thus confirming the transformation of CAMTEL into a telecoms group. But, in order to acquire this major innovation, the public telecom company must be able to overcome many challenges. « Holder of three operating licenses, CAMTEL will have more than in the past to face suspicions of non-transparency, even corruption or unfair management of operators in their own segments. CAMTEL will also face complaints and reproaches, in the event of poor quality of service, approximate after-sales services and slowness in the provision of services,”Minpostel averred.
As it is the case, according to reliable source, in order to avoid the act of criticism, and to settle in the posture of an operator in a situation of abuse of a dominant position; “CAMTEL must comply with the respect of the quality of service indicators contained in the notebooks of loads and in accordance with international standards,” we learned. « All files, regardless of their origins, must be treated in a fair and transparent manner, in accordance with the regulations in force and the accounting and technical traceability of operators must be ensured,” CAMTEL further whispered to Minpostel.
Good news therefore for competition in the mobile telephony sector in Cameroon. After Orange Cameroon, MTN Cameroon and Nexttel, Camtel has been the 4th mobile operator in Cameroon since March 2020. It is indeed a historic moment. Many await the functionality of Blue as they express their anxiety. “This is a very good initiative and most of us CAMTEL users are excited and anxiously waiting. So when therefore is the launch of Blue?”
Daisy Pearl Mufu
