In a decisive move to uphold digital service standards, Cameroon’s Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ART) has imposed hefty fines totaling 2.6 billion CFA francs on telecom giants Orange Cameroon and MTN Cameroon for breaching key contractual obligations related to service quality, coverage, and pricing transparency.
The decision, announced by ART’s Director General, Professor Philémon Zoo Zame, follows extensive inspections conducted in April and May 2024.
These evaluations, led by ART-certified agents, revealed critical deficiencies across key national transport corridors, including Yaoundé–Mbalmayo–Ebolowa–Kyé-Ossi and Yaoundé–Mbalmayo–Ebolowa–Mintom–Ntam, as well as within the urban centres of Yaoundé and Douala.
The findings point to widespread shortcomings in network coverage and overall service performance, with both companies falling below the coverage thresholds stipulated in their operating licenses.
Further investigations at the headquarters of Orange Cameroon and MTN in Douala uncovered additional violations related to pricing transparency.
Orange Cameroon was specifically cited for failing to provide reliable unsubscription codes for value-added services—a breach considered particularly harmful to consumer rights.
As a result, the company has been fined 1.4 billion CFA francs for poor service and coverage, and an additional 200 million CFA francs for pricing irregularities. MTN Cameroon faces a 1 billion CFA franc fine for similar coverage and service lapses.
“These sanctions fall within the legal framework established by Decree No. 2013/0399 of February 27, 2013, which enshrines the right of every consumer to quality electronic communication services accessible across the national territory,” the ART stated.
The fines are not merely symbolic; they are enforceable financial penalties. ART has the authority to invoke treasury privileges for recovery if the companies fail to comply.
This regulatory clampdown comes amid Cameroon’s broader push to accelerate digital transformation and ensure that telecom operators contribute meaningfully to national development.
The ART’s action sends a clear message to the telecom industry: obligations toward quality and transparency are not optional.
As consumer reliance on digital infrastructure deepens, ART’s intervention highlights the growing imperative for accountability, performance, and equitable access across Cameroon’s rapidly evolving telecommunications sector.
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