ART links extraordinary staff performance to ultra-modern edifice.

Baptised “The Platinum Building”, the state-of-the-art structure stands majestically a few metres away from the prestigious 20th May Boulevard at the city centre of Yaounde. 

Erected on a 2,050 m2 surface area, the imposing and magnificent tower has two basements, a ground floor and eight floors. 

Top management of the Telecommunications Regulatory Board, TRB, worked hand in glove with other actors to realise the project despite the stumbling blocks.

Management has stated that the building was erected to create a safe modern and dynamic working environment for the staff of the head office. 

In spite of several misunderstandings on the terms of the contract between the Ministry of Public Contracts and the TRB, the project was realised on record time.

The project was realised by Erdem-Somaf Consortium while Machia-Tognia Company managed the architectural and technical studies, as well as the control and supervision of works. 

International firm, Veritas, performed the services necessary for the technical control of the work done to obtain a ten-year guarantee.

The technical coordination was placed under the authority of the competent public administrations, namely the Ministry of Public Works in its capacity as the contract engineer; the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the engineer in charge of monitoring the technical studies and the Ministry of Public Contracts, which ensured compliance with regulatory clauses.

Meanwhile, the supervision on the construction site was ensured by the Director General of TRB, Prof Philemon Zoo Zame. 

It makes sense to state that beyond the aesthetic and attractive look of the new premises, the construction project of the TRB headquarters building came in response to some of the difficulties faced by the staff of the Directorate General, DG. 

It should be recalled that between 1998 and 2022, three buildings were rented to host the increasing number of staff being recruited at the TRB. 

The construction of the said building has not only reduced financial burden incurred from renting expensive buildings but has also contributed to the comfort of the staff, who are working tirelessly to ensure that consumers of electronic communication goods and services are satisfied.

TRB evolving in grand style 

It should be recalled that when the TRB was created in 1998, it had as main mission to; monitor the activities of mobile telephony operators.

The market initially included only INTELCAM company, the public operator. 

Currently, there are four concessionary operators and more than one hundred and ninety (190) network operators, holders of 1st category license and providers of value-added electronic communications services and holders of declaration receipts. 

In order to sustainably support the said competitive dynamic-a growth factor for the national economy and to take into account the technological and structural changes favoured by the rise in the convergence of electronic communications networks and services, Law No. 2010/013 of 21 December 2010 governing electronic communications in Cameroon was promulgated. 

The said law was amended and supplemented by Law No. 2015/006 of 20 of April 2015. Following the promulgation of the said law, the TRB became the central body in charge of assigning radio frequencies  introducing five new types of licenses in the sector. 

As a result, an analysis was carried out in the development of the national electronic communications market with a view to guaranteeing the harmonious development of its activities.

In 2017, the TRB initiated a program to upgrade its main regulatory mechanisms in order to better fulfil the regulatory missions assigned to it. 

In this light, public authorities considered the need to ensure the reform of TRB. The Head of State, then signed decree No. 2020/727 of December 3, 2020, to the reorganise the functioning of the TRB. 

The said decree, confers to the TRB the status of a public establishment with a special status. TRB is also endowed with new levers of action enabling it to better assume its role of regulator, in particular the Preferential Rights of the Treasury and implementation of sanctions to defaulters in the sector. 

Following the decree, the Board of Directors committed the Directorate General to, among other things, define in the short term the practical modalities for the implementation of a new regulatory model in the field of electronic communications.

The said project infers a set of reforms aimed at making the TRB a robust, innovative and more efficient institution by 2025, through the renovation and modernisation of the conditions for carrying out the missions and prerogatives assigned to it.

This, with a view for a better regulation of electronic communications. The final perspective of the said process of adapting the regulation to current and future issues and challenges which TRB will have to resolutely face, relates to the optimised, coherent and equitable development of electronic communications networks and services over the national territory and strengthening of the missions of consumer protection of electronic communications products and services.

The realisation of the said fundamental transition when necessary, is to ensure the preparation in order to introduce the 5G in Cameroon and anticipate in an efficient manner, the emergence of new technological innovations. 

This will undoubtedly constitute a major asset for TRB to make its full and optimal contribution to the achievement of the program of great opportunities “preached” by the Head of State, Paul Biya.