CAMTEL, CAMWATER reach deal to share infrastructure countrywide.

It was the General Manager, GM, of CAMTEL, Judith Yah Sunday Epse Achidi, who signed the partnership on behalf of her institution, while Blaise Moussa, the Director General of CAMWATER, did same for the water supply company.

Through the agreement, CAMTEL intends to use CAMWATER infrastructure, including pipes, to access parts of the country with its fibre optic network.

Speaking Wednesday before putting pen to paper, the emblematic CAMTEL GM explained to her guests that the company has a national fibre optic backbone network linking almost all the Divisional capitals and intends to extend it as part of its Backbone Phase IV, BB4 project.

In a similar spirit, Judith Yah Sunday said the presence of CAMWATER network in all the Divisional headquarters is also undeniable. 

“The presence of our two companies in the various towns is an opportunity to be seized in order to pool infrastructure and optimise investments,” she explained, before noting that: “We are not unaware of the problems of vandalism that the fibre optic network experiences from time to time in terms of transport or distribution, the most recent case being the cutting of the fibre…the night before yesterday, here in Yaounde, which considerably disrupted the availability of services”.

Judith Yah Sunday was categorical that: “It goes without saying that sharing infrastructure with CAMWATER is a proven solution for the security and stability of our network. For example, in the major cities of Douala and Yaounde, the use of CAMWATER's pipes and ducts can make it possible to secure the metropolitan loops of each of these localities”.

She said CAMTEL and CAMWATER could also use each other's extension work to extend their respective networks in urban and semi-urban areas. 

The approach, she stated, has the advantage of securing the fibre by protecting it against acts of vandalism, which would reduce disruption and improve quality of services.

“The advantages of today's initiative are beneficial to both our companies. For example, as previously mentioned, CAMTEL is preparing to launch the extension of its national fibre optic backbone network through the BB4 project. This is an opportunity for CAMWATER to take advantage of the civil engineering work that will be carried out by laying the pipes needed to supply certain localities with drinking water,” she told CAMWATER officials.

Judith Yah Sunday explained that beyond CAMTEL’s vision of becoming an innovative corporate citizen at the forefront of digital transformation in Sub-Saharan Africa, the concession granted to them for the deployment and operation of an electronic communications transport network requires the company to cover all the councils in the country by 2030. 

She said extending their network has become a key priority.

Judith Yah Sunday said Wednesday’s event marked a significant milestone in the journey of Cameroon’s infrastructure development.

She stated that “this isn't just a signing ceremony, but a symbol of collaboration and progress. This agreement signifies a bold step towards innovation, efficiency and sustainable development”.

“CAMWATER and CAMTEL, two pillars of our national infrastructure, are joining forces today not just to share resources, but to amplify our collective impact. By combining our expertise and leveraging existing infrastructure, we pave the way for faster, more cost-effective deployments of Telecom and water services across our nation,” she continued.

She explained that infrastructure-sharing is becoming a fairly common practice around the world, with numerous advantages, including cost effectiveness.

She said sharing infrastructure between CAMWATER and CAMTEL presents a compelling opportunity to enhance operational efficiency and achieve mutual benefits for both organisations and the communities they serve. 

Enter CAMWATER DG

Taking the cue during the ceremony, the Director General of CAMWATER, Blaise Moussa, said by signing the agreement, both institutions will be working hand in hand to contribute to the harmonious development of the country.

He described drinking water and telecommunications are levers of development, whose importance no longer needs to be demonstrated. 

“Every morning, as soon as they wake up, citizens, whatever their standard of living or social status, feel the need to be informed, to keep abreast of world news, to have news of their loved ones and then to quench their thirst and take a bath,” he noted.

He said pooling their strengths in an environment where resources are less and less available in “your sector as in ours, is a means of achieving in a concerted manner, our common objectives”.

“CAMWATER therefore intends to implement this agreement efficiently, in order to facilitate access to its drinking water transport and storage facilities for CAMTEL's activities, in compliance with the regulations in force,” he added.

Moussa said by pooling efforts in terms of network operations, both companies will be avoiding having to take numerous steps to secure land and others.

He said both companies will simply take advantage of existing facilities to expand their activities and ensure that underground networks coexist perfectly.

The story was first published in The Guardian Post issue No: 3145 of Friday June 21, 2024