“I wish you all a happy International Telecommunications Day. For an inclusive and responsible digital society” Justine Diffo Tchunkam
Cameroon joins the international community in celebrating World Telecom Day. Celebrated every year on May 17, this day marks the creation of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the signing of the first International Telegraph Convention in 1865.
This celebration comes in a particular context, marked by a climate of anger and frustration between consumers and mobile phone companies. This morning, Prof Justine Diffo Tchunkam, PCA of ART through her celebratory message, insisted on the digitization of society, “Digital and inclusive society” she will say in a message on her Facebook page.
Since the beginning of this year, ART has been playing a vital role in improving the quality of communication services, which is nevertheless highly criticized by consumers. Very few know the level of pressure that the Telecoms Regulatory Agency exerts on these operators. This despite the promises made at the end of 2022 by these various operators to improve the quality of services through new investments, 156 billion FCFA in 2023 relating to the extension of network coverage and the improvement of quality of service.
Last January, the ART commissioned multidisciplinary technical control teams, currently in the field, to carry out performance checks of the mobile telephone networks in correlation with the performance indicators contained in the specifications. These checks are prerequisites for taking decisions on penalties, which range from financial penalties, the proposal to reduce the duration of the concession or the proposal to withdraw the concession.
After the meeting a few weeks ago between the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and the various operators, the regulator is maintaining the pressure by brandishing repressive measures. Can he go all the way?
