To diversify digital services: CAMTEL GM announces imminent creation of digital parks, technopoles.

She said the modern facilities will also help in developing the manufacturing and assembly of digital devices.

Judith Yah Sunday announced the creation of the digital facilities as she spoke Tuesday in Yaounde. This was at the start of CAMTEL Digital Infrastructure Day.

The high-level forum, held under theme: “Digital infrastructure development and governance in the context of SND 30: Challenges and prospects”, brought together key players in the sector.

The CAMTEL Digital Infrastructure Day, it should be said, was organised as part of activities marking the year-long celebration of the 25 years of existence of the public telecommunications operator.

Speaking during the event, Judith Yah Sunday explained that the place and role of telecommunications as an engine for industrialisation in Cameroon are clearly stipulated in the National Development Strategy, SND30. 

She however regretted that the level of use of information and communication technologies, ICTs, by local populations and businesses remains very limited “as does the popularisation, dissemination, adoption and appropriation of ICTs by public administrations remain insufficient”.

The dynamic General Manager quoted experts as revealing that the digital economy comprises three pillars. 

She said: “The first, described as the heart of the digital economy, is based on the development of broadband electronic communications infrastructure and the IT and electronics sectors, while the second and third pillars respectively are activities arising from the development of ICT and the transformation of existing ones through the integration of ICT use”.

The General Manager disclosed that in the field of the digital economy, the SND30 has focused on the first pillar related to the development of electronic communications infrastructure. Cameroon, she then revealed, plans to reconfigure the national digital ecosystem including restructuring the sector through the creation of a digital infrastructure assets company as well as build the necessary digital infrastructure and secure networks globally.

“In addition, CAMTEL, thanks to the Government of the Republic, plans to create digital parks and technopoles in the near future, with a view to developing the production of digital content, increasing and diversify digital uses and services, and to develop the manufacturing and assembly of digital parts and devices,” the GM announced.

She had, meanwhile, explained that the advent of a digital infrastructure will be to facilitate access to ICTs for as many people as possible, by ensuring a high-performance, secure digital space with an average access index of over 0.4. 

Judith Yah Sunday said CAMTEL has a robust plan of action which includes developing a state-of-the-art digital ecosystem through the completion of fiber optic installation work.

She cited the National Broadband Network II project, the National Emergency Telecommunications, the Central African Backbone project as well as the continued deployment of the hinterland fiber optic network to enable users connect to the infrastructure already in place.

“It was in this vein that CAMTEL's top management has developed a customer-centric strategy to control the production costs of products and services, and thus reduce the cost of widespread use of ICTs by citizens throughout the country,” she added.

The actions undertaken, Judith Yah said, have enabled progress to be made, including construction of 12,000 km of optical fiber. 

CAMTEL's telecommunications development strategy, she explained is based on connecting households and businesses to the fiber optic network already installed, continued investments in infrastructure modernisation, extending the geographical coverage in terms of digital infrastructure, quality of Internet service and offer new, more attractive products.

She was optimistic that despite certain difficulties inherent to the telecommunications sector in general, CAMTEL is sparing no effort to meet the challenge of connectivity in Cameroon and the Central African sub-region.

“The 21st century, marked by globalisation, has forced us to outdo ourselves to offer the best of our assets,” the General Manager concluded.