At London conference: P&T minister wooing partners to help Cameroon tackle broadband connectivity challenges.

The member of government is taking part at the first-ever ministerial alliance for Digital Nations.
She is amongst some 20 Information Communication Technology, ICT, ministers across the Commonwealth region taking part in the crucial meeting. The minister is using the meeting to exploit ways of engaging partners to find solutions to Cameroon’s broadband connectivity challenges.

Minister Libom is accompanied by top officials from the ICT sector in Cameroon, including officials from Telecommunications Regulatory Board, ART, and the Cameroon Telecommunications, CAMTEL. This ministerial alliance for Digital Nations comes on the heels of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation Digital Week, which started February 20, with a forum chaired by Cameroon. 

It is expected that as the Digital Week wraps us this Friday February 24, major decisions to improve internet connectivity will be taken. Organised by the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, CTO, the inaugural ministerial alliance will consider affordable universal broadband access as being essential for digital transformation.  

Country Representatives are expected to share challenges in achieving affordable broadband access. ICT industry representatives will use the meeting to respond to questions raised by the ministers, explain their technology and present appropriate ICT solutions. 

The meeting is also an opportunity for member states to learn emerging technologies and their implications for policy, legislation and regulations. According to CTO, the key objectives of the 2023 session is to present members’ success in digital transformation, share insight, best practices on digital transformation and facilitate support for members. 

Despite huge strides made by Cameroon over the past years, the International Finance Corporation report puts the country at an uncomfortable situation. The institution said although Cameroon mobile phone market matured between 2011 and 2020, the fixed and mobile broadband internet market has experienced limited growth due to serious quality issues (coverage, download speed and outages). 

It is expected that Minister Libom and collaborators will be returning with fresh ideas and partners who will improve internet use in Cameroon.