At visit to structure: Telecoms regulatory boss rates CAMTEL’s Data Centre high.

The Telecoms Regulatory Board boss made the remarks Tuesday May 30. He was speaking during a visit to the CAMTEL Data Centre in Zamengoe, Okola Subdivision in the Centre Region.

Prof Philemon Zo’o Zame and his close collaborators were received at the Data Centre by the General Manager of CAMTEL, Judith Yah Sunday epse Achidi. 

The visit was in line with ART’s mission to ensure CAMTEL meets its obligations in terms of quality of service. 

The Director General of the Telecoms Regulatory Board was taken round the infrastructure to appreciate CAMTEL’s investment and dedication in supporting the digital economy in Cameroon and beyond.

The guided tour at the facility took Prof Philemon Zo’o Zame from the server room through to the access management system and surveillance camera.

Presenting an overview of the Data Centre to the visiting ART boss, the General Manager of CAMTEL, Judith Yah Sunday epse Achidi, said the infrastructure was constricted to “fill a substantial void and significantly enriches the telecommunications ecosystem in Cameroon and Central African sub-region”.

Yah Sunday added that: “The Data Centre will boost the development of the digital economy by facilitating the hosting of service platforms, a catalyst that will spark the creative genius of our youths, like startups that now have a local tool, that meet international standards, and is very affordable, secure and more accessible”. 

Reacting after the tour of the various components of the Data Centre, Prof Philemon Zo’o Zame, saluted the physical and technical capacities of the structure.

The Director General of ART, gave a thumbs up to CAMTEL for the investment.  He said the centre has the capacity to be a leading technological hub across Africa.

“It should be noted that CAMTEL is not an operator like the others. CAMTEL is the only telecommunications operator that holds three concession agreements at the same time. This calls for a particular attention towards CAMTEL,” Prof Zo’o Zame said. 

He however recommended the incumbent telecoms operator to ensure all the equipment are homologated by the technical partner, HUAWEI.

This, he said, will ensure they meet the needs of the company and also avoid any vicious or malicious infiltration of the system.

“Our collaboration is geared at providing appropriate answers to the expectations, not only of the government but also of electronic communications users. Thus, this visit comes in the wake of the recent disappointment expressed by the public and we will work hard to ensure consumers’ satisfaction,” Prof Zo’o Zame added. 

The ART boss left the CAMTEL Data Centre satisfied, with a call on all partners to work together to improve service delivery to avoid sanctions.

In response, the General Manager of CAMTEL reassured that the company is sparing no effort to improve the quality of service within a relatively short period of time. This, she said, is as directed by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng. 

Zoom on CAMTEL Data Centre

The landing station in Zamengoe which hosts CAMTEL’s Data Centre was first constructed in 1975. 

The Data Centre is one of the flagship projects of the second phase of CAMTEL’s National Broadband Network Program (NBN2) carried out in close collaboration with the company’s technical partner Huawei, with the invaluable support of the government.

The architectural jewel, constructed on a surface area of 3,019m2 is the best and largest Data Centre in the Central African sub region.

With a tier three certification by design, it consists of; a 400m² server room with a capacity of five cubes or 130 bays; a supervision room with 08 working stations, an automated energy management system of 440 KW of undulated power. 

It has three transformers of 800 KVA, four generators of 1000 KVA and 40,000 litres of diesel tank, a fire detection and control system and an access management system and surveillance cameras.