Cameroon’s telecom regulator has issued fines totaling approximately 2.6 billion CFA francs (around US $4.6 million) to MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroun for repeated failures in service quality and regulatory compliance.
Between April and May 2024, field inspections along key transport corridors and in major cities—including Yaoundé, Douala, Mbalmayo, Ebolowa, and Kyé-Ossi—revealed that both operators failed to meet the minimum coverage and service obligations stipulated in their operating licenses. The Telecommunications Regulatory Board (TRB) identified poor voice and data connectivity, service outages, and inconsistent network reach in several regions. Orange Cameroon was found to be in breach of pricing transparency rules and faced issues with malfunctioning opt-out codes related to value-added services. MTN Cameroon was also cited for substandard network delivery.
As a consequence, the TRB ordered a fine of 1.4 billion CFA francs (about US $2.5 million) against Orange Cameroun for service and pricing violations, plus an additional 200 million CFA francs (around US $357,600) for non-compliant pricing practices. MTN Cameroon was fined 1 billion CFA francs (approximately US $1.8 million) for lapses in coverage and network quality.
TRB Director General Philémon Zo’o Zame stressed that the fines underscore the regulator’s resolve to enforce contractual obligations and reinforce the importance of reliable telecom services as a development imperative. “This action sends a strong signal that operators must not be lax in meeting regulatory requirements,” he said.
The fines follow mounting consumer dissatisfaction and multiple public appeals by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications to address worsening service quality—despite combined capital investments of more than CFA 185 billion made by Camtel, Orange, and MTN in 2023. Users have long reported frequent network outages, slow internet speeds, and poor call connectivity, often blaming unreliable fiber infrastructure, power disruptions, and limitations in maintenance and response.
Our coverage of complaint trends on local forums, including those collected from users in Douala and Yaoundé, mirrors public frustration—many saying service remains inconsistent, even in urban centers.
The telecom regulator has pledged to closely monitor telecom operators, enforce stricter compliance, upgrade customer grievance systems, and audit infrastructure performance. Authorities have also emphasized that further sanctions—including potential reductions in license duration—could follow if improvements are not forthcoming.
This marks a major enforcement milestone in Cameroon’s efforts to uphold service standards in its digital economy and ensure that telecommunications providers deliver on their commitments to consumers.
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