Cameroon Imposes $4.6M Fines on MTN and Orange for Telecom Shortcomings
Improving Telecom Services in Cameroon: Regulatory Measures and Enforcement Actions
Cameroon's telecommunications sector is undergoing significant changes as the government and regulatory bodies work tirelessly to enhance service quality for providers like MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroun.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Board (TRB) has identified widespread issues such as unreliable voice and data services, frequent outages, and uneven network availability. In response, the TRB's Director General, Philemon Zo'o Zame, stated that the penalties reflect the agency's commitment to upholding contractual standards and the critical role of dependable telecom services in national development.
The regulatory measures include government directives for compliance and improved service quality, fines and penalties on operators, addressing underinvestment and infrastructure issues, and regional frequency coordination agreements.
Following a cabinet meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on July 31, 2025, the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications emphasized the importance of service quality, monitored by the TRB, aligned with international standards. The regulatory agency fined Orange Cameroun and MTN Cameroon a total of CFA 2.6 billion for failing to meet network coverage thresholds and for pricing violations.
The government has highlighted that poor service quality results from underinvestment, poor equipment maintenance, and lack of infrastructure sharing between operators. The government pressures operators to align their investments with growing mobile traffic demands to sustainably improve network performance.
Cameroon’s regulator (ART) is actively engaged in bilateral and regional coordination to reduce cross-border interference that can impact service quality near borders. Recent agreements with Chad, Gabon, and discussions for similar agreements with Congo and Angola aim to regulate signal strengths, remove unauthorized interference, and enhance digital sovereignty.
Officials have warned of additional penalties for continued non-compliance, including possible reductions in license validity periods. The fines follow growing public frustration and repeated calls from the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications to improve service quality, despite the companies investing over CFA 185 billion in network infrastructure in 2023.
Inspections in April and May 2024 revealed that both companies failed to meet minimum coverage and service standards outlined in their licenses. As a result, Orange Cameroun was fined 1.4 billion CFA francs for service delivery and pricing breaches, and an additional 200 million CFA francs for non-compliance with pricing standards. MTN Cameroon was fined 1 billion CFA francs for deficiencies in network coverage and overall service quality.
The telecom regulator has committed to intensifying oversight of service providers and enhancing customer complaint mechanisms. Widespread dissatisfaction among users in Douala and Yaoundé is reported due to unreliable network performance, even in major urban areas. Consumers have consistently voiced concerns over recurring network failures, sluggish internet, and dropped calls issues, often attributed to unstable fiber networks, inconsistent power supply, and inadequate maintenance and response systems.
These enforcement steps are part of Cameroon's push to uphold service quality within its digital economy. The TRB's actions reinforce expectations that telecom providers meet their contractual obligations to consumers, ensuring that Cameroonians can rely on their telecommunications services for work, education, and communication.
[1] Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications press release, July 31, 2025. [2] ART press release, June 1, 2024. [3] ART press release, March 15, 2024. [4] Chad-Cameroon Joint Press Release, February 28, 2024. [5] Gabon-Cameroon Joint Press Release, January 20, 2024.
The Telecommunications Regulatory Board (TRB) has outlined measures to improve service quality, which include fines in the industry for non-compliance, addressing underinvestment in infrastructure, and coordinating with neighboring countries to reduce cross-border interference.
In the finance sector, the penalties imposed by the TRB reflect their commitment to upholding contractual standards and demonstrate the significant role dependable telecom services play in national financial development.
