Cameroon’s telecommunications regulatory authority has imposed fines totalling US$4.6 million on the country’s leading mobile network providers, MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroun, due to their failure to meet critical contractual obligations.
The announcement was made public on July 7 by Philémon Zoo Zame, the Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Board (TRB). This marks a significant step towards enforcing quality service standards and safeguarding consumer rights in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
The penalties followed thorough inspections conducted by TRB agents during April and May 2024. These evaluations took place along key national routes, including Yaounde-Mbalmayo-Ebolowa-Kyé-Ossi and Yaounde-Mbalmayo-Ebolowa-Mintom-Ntam, as well as in the major cities of Yaounde and Douala. Investigations also extended to the headquarters of both companies in Douala, with an emphasis on their pricing practices.
The TRB’s findings indicated that both operators violated their coverage and quality of service obligations defined in their licensing agreements. They found that network coverage fell below acceptable thresholds in several important areas.
In the case of Orange Cameroon, additional issues were identified related to non-functional opt-out codes for value-added services, which directly infringe upon consumer rights. Furthermore, pricing irregularities raised concerns regarding transparency and fairness at Orange.
Consequently, Orange Cameroun faced a US$2.5 million fine for failing to comply with service quality and coverage regulations, along with an additional US$357,600 penalty for pricing non-compliance. Meanwhile, MTN Cameroon was fined US$1.8 million for similar coverage and service delivery issues.
“By taking this action, TRB is delivering a strong message to mobile network operators that negligence in fulfilling regulatory requirements will not be accepted,” Zame stated, emphasizing that consistent access to quality telecommunications services is essential not only as a regulatory obligation but also as a fundamental component of development.
As of now, neither of the affected telecommunications companies has released a statement regarding the fines.
