The MTN Cameroon telephone operator announced that it is planning to invest 600 billion FCfa for the next three years in order to develop its network to offer services such as data, the cloud and internet access.
With the evolution and emergence of smartphones, these services are overtaking basic telephone calls. MTN Cameroon estimates that this transition needs important financial resources that it is prepared to spend.
But this plan depends on the State granting a 3G license to the operator. The South African Group’s subsidiary has run into obstacles affecting the development and modernization of its network and services like the government’s refusal to grant the company a 3G license.
“For several years, we have been requesting 3G approval from the government, but we still have not gotten it,” stated Karl Toriola (photo), MTN Managing Director to media who were extending their greetings on Thursday, February 13, 2014 in Douala. The government’s response has so far been negative. “We are prepared to invest 600 billion FCfa over the next three years, if the government wants us to.”
Karl Toriola has risen up against the government’s decision to grant 3G exclusivity to newcomer, Viettel until December 2014. The Vietnamese company had spent 20 billion FCfa in December 2012 to obtain the 3G license in Cameroon. It also promised to invest close to 200 billion FCfa to cover 81 percent of the Cameroon with 2G and 3G mobile technologies.
The Managing Director of MTN Cameroon affirms that in several countries, 3G licenses have been granted to several operators and does not understand why only one operator should enjoy this privilege in Cameroon. Yet, the benefits for subscribers are likely to be significant.
Karl Toriola stressed the point that MTN Cameroon is the company that pays the most State taxes with already 600 billion in taxes paid in Cameroon in 14 years. It indicates that it will not falter in its commitments to the State.
