Yaounde: CAMTEL has expressed strong disapproval of claims implicating it in the decline of the Orange Cameroun network’s electronic communications quality.

According to Cameroon News Agency, the controversy erupted following an online article by Cameroon Eco-Business, which published a press release from Orange Cameroun. The release attributed persistent network deterioration to recurrent interruptions of optical fibre transmission links managed by CAMTEL.

CAMTEL has categorically rejected these allegations, emphasizing that Orange Cameroun’s network operates on dark fibre, a setup over which CAMTEL has no oversight. The company highlighted that solutions offering managed capacities could provide redundancy and ensure uninterrupted service. However, CAMTEL claims that Orange Cameroun has opted to remain on dark fibre, a decision that leaves them vulnerable to network issues, for which CAMTEL insists it cannot be blamed.

The release further clarified that all mobile operators in Cameroon, including MTN Cameroon, rely on the same transport network. However, operators are individually responsible for implementing redundancy strategies for their site connections. CAMTEL pointed out that during a recent disruption at the Orange site in Zoetele, CAMTEL and MTN Cameroon services remained unaffected. This underscores the need for operators to secure redundancy in their last mile connections, which are beyond CAMTEL’s control.

Expressing frustration over the situation, CAMTEL accused Orange Cameroun of attempting to deflect responsibility for its network problems while unfairly tarnishing CAMTEL’s reputation. Despite the allegations, CAMTEL has assured its customers of its commitment to delivering improved service quality and is actively working toward this goal.