BY NDUMBE BELL GASTON IN DOUALA
In a surprise move, Cameroonians, especially in Douala and Yaounde, were taken aback by the communiqué that Vodafone Cameroon, the mobile phone internet provider, of British origin which only opened its doors in September 2016, was officially suspending operations in the two cities where operations had basically started pending expansion.
According to our sources in the Telecommunications and Regulatory Board and the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, Vodafone Cameroon has been operational all this while through a provisional authorization procured from the Regulations Board that initiated their take off. However, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications headed by Madam Minette Libom Li Likeng instructed the Telecoms Regulatory Board to immediately withdraw that provisional paper and accused Vodafone Cameroon to have been operating illegally in the nation.
For this and other reasons Vodafone wrote to the public and disconnected services last September 14 with excerpts of their communiqué appealing to its clients and direct and indirect workforce to remain calm until the situation is resolved.
Our sources say that the Ministry is holding VodafoneCameroon accountable for the demise because they explain that Vodafone has been using the authorization or licence of NorthWave LTD, a Cameroonian enterprise, which through mergers and acquisition, was bought by one Afrimax Group which then created Vodafone Cameroon.
So, according to the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, this development was unacceptable by the laws and regulations in force. Dialogue on this issue for VodafoneCameroon to acquire their licence using this name and other acceptable norms, has been on going before their relationship with the P and T became strained.
Before the situation became untenable, Vodafone Cameroon insisted to use their present status to expand services in July this year in an initiative led by Antoine Pamboro, the General Manager, who, at the time sought to have the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) platform which provides access to the infrastructure of another operator. As far as the P. and T. is concerned, this projects can only be realized if Vodafone Cameroon redresses the situation. to expand their own networks from the P. and T.
Vodafone Cameroon, intends to bounce back and enter into serious competition by acquiring the 4G LTE technology even though some of their clients are upset and want to sue them. No explanations were given to their clients before the communiqué. In an optimistic and apologetic mood Vodafone Cameroon assures all partners and customers affected by the breakdown in communications that services will be restored as soon as possible.
Since its inception Vodafone Cameroon has a fixed workforce of 116, 1055 indirect staff and filled government coffers with FCFA 3 billion.