Cameroon Imposes Heavy Penalties on Telecom Companies MTN and Orange for Operational Shortcomings, Issuing Fines Totaling $4.6 Million
In a significant move to uphold service quality within Cameroon's digital economy, the Telecommunications Regulatory Board (TRB) has fined two leading telecom operators, MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroun, a total of approximately $4.6 million for ongoing service delivery issues and regulatory breaches.
MTN Cameroon was fined approximately $1.8 million for deficiencies in network coverage and overall service quality, while Orange Cameroun was hit with a fine of around $2.5 million for breaches related to service delivery, pricing, and non-compliance with pricing standards.
These penalties come in response to growing public frustration and repeated calls from the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications to improve service quality. Despite collective investments of over $185 billion in network infrastructure in 2023, 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.
The TRB reported widespread issues such as unreliable voice and data services, frequent outages, and uneven network availability. Inspections in major cities and key transport routes found that both MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroun failed to meet minimum coverage and service standards.
Officials have warned of potential additional penalties for continued non-compliance. The enforcement step is a significant one in Cameroon's push to uphold service quality within its digital economy.
The TRB Director General, Philemon Zo'o Zame, emphasized the agency's commitment to upholding contractual standards and the critical role of dependable telecom services in national development. The move reinforces expectations that telecom providers meet their contractual obligations to consumers.
As part of its efforts to enhance service quality, the TRB plans to intensify oversight of service providers. Thorough infrastructure audits will be conducted, and customer complaint mechanisms will be enhanced. The regulator is also committed to tightening compliance standards. These measures may include reductions in license validity periods for non-compliant operators.
Contextually, the TRB was a key organizer of a seminar in March 2025 in Yaoundé focused on economic resilience and cooperation, which aligns with its regulatory mission and may indirectly indicate efforts to enhance regulatory frameworks and sector oversight. However, detailed recent information specifically about TRB's enforcement actions or precise future plans targeting service quality improvement or compliance enforcement for MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroun is not explicitly documented in the available search results.
Despite the lack of explicit updates or plans, the TRB appears functionally operational and engaged in multi-sector policy dialogue. For up-to-date, detailed regulatory developments, official TRB communications or Cameroon government releases would be the most authoritative references.
In Douala and Yaoundé, users report widespread dissatisfaction with the unreliable network performance. The enforcement action by the TRB is a step towards addressing these concerns and ensuring that Cameroon's telecom sector delivers the reliable, high-quality services that its citizens and economy deserve.
The fines imposed on MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroun by the Telecommunications Regulatory Board (TRB) are a part of the industry's financial repercussions for failing to maintain acceptable service quality standards in the digital economy of Cameroon. The TRB's intensified oversight, including infrastructure audits and enhanced customer complaint mechanisms, reflects a determined move towards improving finance and service delivery within the telecom sector.
