To digitalise operations: PAD seals deal with INNOVEDI for 5G technology.

The partnership was formalized during a ceremony on Monday, November 17. PAD Director General, DG, Cyrus Ngo’o, and the Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of INNOVENDI, Joël Monefong, signed the deal for their respective institutions.

Ngo’o said the deal marks one of the most ambitious technological upgrades ever undertaken at the Douala-Bonaberi Port.

He said it strengthens PAD’s drive to modernise the port’s operational environment and align it with global standards at a time when competition within the Gulf of Guinea is rapidly intensifying. He added that through the partnership, PAD will become a fully digital Smart Port.

The PAD DG said the project is fully financed by INNOVENDI and its partners, enabling PAD to undertake a far-reaching digital transformation without any initial financial outlay. 

The technical package being deployed, Ngo’o said, includes; a hybrid 4G/5G network to provide high-speed, low-latency connectivity across the entire port platform, Internet of Things, IoT, solutions.

These, he said will be f for real-time cargo tracking, monitoring of equipment, predictive maintenance, and automated data collection, edge-cloud computing infrastructure.

Ngo’o said the infrastructure will allow critical information to be processed locally with faster response times and reduced dependence on external data centres.

He added that the deal also includes, advanced cybersecurity tools to protect sensitive port systems from digital threats, ensure data integrity, and guarantee secure operations, intelligent interfaces and automated systems to modernise traffic flow, cargo management, access control, and surveillance.

The PAD boss noted that digital ecosystem will drastically improve the fluidity of port operations, reduce human error, boost security, and significantly cut the long-standing vessel and cargo dwell times that have hampered the port’s competitiveness.

‘Win-win’ Public–Private Partnership

He disclosed that the agreement, based on a spontaneous offer evaluated by an ad hoc committee, is a mutually beneficial financial framework. 

In return for the rights granted, INNOVENDI, the DG said, will pay PAD: an entry fee, a fixed periodic fee, a variable fee tied to port activity, additional charges provided under port regulations.

Ngo’o also noted that the structure guarantees PAD a recurrent and sustainable revenue stream while creating room for continuous technological upgrades.

Strengthening competitiveness

The PAD General Manager maintained that the move is in line with the Corporation’s long-term ambition to consolidate the Douala-Bonaberi port’s role as the principal logistics hub of the Gulf of Guinea.

With mounting competitive pressure from ports in Kribi in the South  Region, Lomé in Togo, Tema in  Ghana, Pointe-Noire in  Congo, and Lagos in Nigeria, the adoption of 5G and Smart Port systems, Ngo’o said, is essential to safeguarding Cameroon’s maritime leadership in the sub-region.

The improved efficiency expected from the digital transformation, he said, is projected to attract more shipping lines, improve customer satisfaction among shippers and freight forwarders. 

He also noted that the technological boost will also position Douala as a modern, tech-driven port capable of handling rising regional trade.

Socioeconomic spinoffs 

Beyond its technological ambition, PAD GM said the project carries significant socio-economic benefits. 

The project, he told guests, will create direct and indirect jobs, particularly in telecommunications, engineering, maintenance, and security, training and capacity building for young Cameroonian professionals.

Cameroonians, he also said, will also be equipped with new digital and technical skills, before adding the involvement of local Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, SMEs, which will supply goods, services, and support during implementation and maintenance phases and technology transfer.

He also announced that the deal raises PAD to the rank of internationally recognised Smart Ports. Ngo’o considered the transition to 5G not just a technological upgrade, but a structural shift that will define the port’s future competitiveness in the sub region.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3631 of Thursday November 20, 2025