WACS to reduce communications cost

The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications made the revelation in Batoke as he handed over the Submarine Fibre Optic Cable Landing Station to CAMTEL.

With high rates of calls charged by the two private mobile telephone companies, poor communication services rendered, snail pace internet connections and other technological services that leave much to be desired, the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Jean Pierre Biyiti Bi Essam says these shortcomings will soon be history.

He was speaking in Batoke near Limbe on Thursday 4, September 2014 as he chaired the handing-over ceremony of the Submarine Fibre Optic Cable Landing Station christened the West Africa Cable System (WACS) to the Cameroon Telecommunications (CAMTEL). Minister Jean Pierre Biyiti bi Essam was crystal clear that the WACS will reduce cost in communication technology and speed up internet services as soon as it goes operational. “We expect call rates and that of the internet services to drop while there will be speedy internet services.

Activities such as telemedicine, Distance learning, electronic commerce, online games etc, will be improved,” Minister Biyiti assured Cameroonians.

He stressed on the fact that, the Submarine Optic Fibre Landing Station in Batoke is part of the Posts and Telecommunications own quota in transforming the telecommunications landscape and cautioned his collaborators to use the facility rightfully to serve Cameroonians.

Receiving a symbolic key from the hands of the Minister for the facility, the General Manager of Cameroon Telecommunications, David Nkoto Emane, promised to put the optic fibre to the best use of Cameroonians and work in synergy with other telecommunication companies in the country for improved and better services to Cameroonians. The West Africa Cable System was bought from Group MTN on 14 July 2014 at the cost of FCFA 14 billion.

Denis Ngae, Camtel Director of Infrastructure and Network informed Cameroon Tribune that it has a life span of 25 years. He added that all measures have been put in place for the maintenance and sustainability of the station.