A better-connected future for Cameroon

Cameroon has made some significant moves over the last several months in order to improve internet and telecommunication connections.

In 2012, only 5% of the country’s population were internet users according to Internet World Stats. But the government, public companies and private projects have ramped up efforts to not only connect more users, but also to encourage technological innovation.



Connectivity is a prime concern, and Cameroon Telecommunications (CAMTEL) — Cameroon’s national telecom and internet services provider — acquired the land entry point for the West Africa Cable System (WACS) fiber optic cable earlier this year, ushering in excitement for improved access to the internet.



The cable was built by MTN Group — a mobile telecommunications company operating in multiple countries — and was given to the State of Cameroon. CAMTEL’s acquisition of the cable from the state means more service to more users, and hopefully improved service to existing ones.



(Cameroon has notoriously poor telecom and internet infrastructure as cable installation is a risky business for many African countries.)



Private projects are growing as well: Africa Internet Holding — a member of Africa Internet Group (AIG) — has been rapidly working on launching internet-based initiatives that will spark web innovation and encourage more users to come online.

AIG’s current projects are comprised of ones already operational in other African countries and which are expanding in Cameroon to spur interest in online business. Jumia, an African online shopping website that has already seen success around the continent, and Kaymu, a huge portal for online sales are two examples.



Lamudi, a real estate listings site, Jovago, a hotel reservations portal, and Carmudi, an online vehicle marketplace, are also hoping to gain traction in the country.



The growth of these projects is contingent upon the improvement of connectivity altogether, with pricing structure as a big concern for web growth. The expansion of the WACS cable is supposed to help in this regard.



CAMTEL is working on a connection between two stations in southwestern Cameroon: Limbe — where MTN’s landing station for the cable was, and Batoké — the station that will facilitate further connectivity into the country.



The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Jean Pierre Biyiti Bi Essam has publicly stated that there is a great expectation for internet service costs and telephone costs to come down as the country’s telecom infrastructure transforms.