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Cameroon Imposes Hefty Fines of $4.6 Million on Telecom Giants MTN and Orange for Service Shortcomings

Telecommunications authorities in Cameroon levied fines totaling around 2.6 billion CFA francs (equivalent to approximately US $4.6 million) towards MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroun. The penalties stem from persistent issues in service delivery and violations of regulatory norms. Inspections...

Cameroon Imposes Heavy Fines: MTN and Orange Hit with $4.6 Million Penalties for Telecom Shortfalls
Cameroon Imposes Heavy Fines: MTN and Orange Hit with $4.6 Million Penalties for Telecom Shortfalls

Cameroon Imposes Hefty Fines of $4.6 Million on Telecom Giants MTN and Orange for Service Shortcomings

In a bid to uphold service quality within Cameroon's digital economy, the Telecommunications Regulatory Board (TRB) has imposed fines on two major telecom providers, MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroun.

The penalties, totalling approximately US $4.6 million, were imposed due to ongoing shortcomings in service delivery and breaches of regulatory standards.

MTN Cameroon was flagged for poor network performance, while Orange Cameroun violated pricing transparency regulations and had faulty opt-out mechanisms for value-added services.

The TRB reported widespread issues such as unreliable voice and data services, frequent outages, and uneven network availability.

The Director General of the TRB, Philemon Zo'o Zame, emphasized that the penalties reflect the agency's commitment to upholding contractual standards and the critical role of dependable telecom services in national development.

The move reinforces expectations for telecom providers to meet their contractual obligations to consumers. Officials have warned of potential additional penalties for continued non-compliance.

Thorough infrastructure audits will be conducted to ensure compliance with minimum coverage and service standards outlined in the companies' licenses.

The TRB imposed a fine of approximately US $2.5 million on Orange Cameroun for service delivery and pricing breaches, and an additional penalty of around US $357,600 for non-compliance with pricing standards.

The enforcement of compliance standards is part of Cameroon's push to improve service quality within its digital economy, responding to growing public frustration and repeated calls from the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications to improve deteriorating service quality.

Despite over CFA 185 billion in network infrastructure investments in 2023, the deteriorating service quality has been a source of widespread dissatisfaction in major urban areas like Douala and Yaoundé by local users.

This is not the first time the telecommunications regulator has taken such action against these companies. In past years, ARCEP (Agence de Régulation des Télécommunications) has imposed fines and sanctions on MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroun mainly for issues such as failure to comply with licensing terms, quality of service deficiencies, and obligations related to coverage and customer service.

However, for the most recent specifics in 2025, including exact fines or detailed reasons, up-to-date authoritative sources such as official ARCEP statements, press releases from MTN Cameroon or Orange Cameroun, or credible news outlets reporting on Cameroon's telecom sector would be needed.

The fines imposed on MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroun, totaling approximately US $4.6 million, were not only due to service delivery issues but also breaches in finance-related regulations, such as non-compliance with pricing standards. The TRB's continued monitoring and penalties aim to ensure the telecom industry, a crucial part of Cameroon's economic development, adheres to contractual obligations and regulatory standards, contributing to improved service quality.

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