Cameroon and Chad have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on fibre optic interconnection between the two countries.
Cameroon’s Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng, and Chad’s Minister of Posts and Digital Economy, Idriss Saleh Bachar, signed the MoU in Cameroon’s capital, Yaounde.
The new agreement covers various legal, economic, and technical aspects of the interconnection, including network traffic routing to submarine cable systems and restoration channels for securing communication networks. In addition, prices for electronic communications services will be reduced as part of the deal.
Cameroon may benefit financially from the agreement because it will act as a transit point for submarine cables supplying Chadian operators such as Bharti Airtel, SOS Telecom, Sotel Tchad, Sudachad, Gilat, and Prestabist. In addition, Cameroon has access to SAT3, WACS, ACE, NCSCS, and SAIL, which will help Chadian operators connect at high speeds.
The Memorandum of Understanding is expected to boost low-cost transactions and facilitate digital trade using all associated technologies. According to Minister Li Likeng, the agreement will enhance access to digital technologies and strengthen regional integration to accomplish harmonious and integrated development of the sub-region economies.
“Cameroon owns four submarine cables, and we are willing to share what we have with Chad as part of our sub-regional solidarity,” Minister Li Likeng stated.
Though Cameroon’s transmission networks have been connected to Chad’s via fibre from the Gangui (Chad) and Kousseri (Cameroon) points since 2011, there is speculation that the new agreement was prompted by the entry of new players into Chad’s telecommunications market.
