Networks still palpitating despite switch over to 3G, 4G

Network coverage has expanded and covers most rural and frontier towns but the increase of scope does not seem to have been accompanied by a significant increase in quality of delivery.
Users still complain of network saturation, poor internet connectivity and fluctuation networks which makes it difficult to make a call of browse on the internet.

A subscriber in Yaoundé, Tanyu Ernest explained that the problem is so serious that it leads to significant damages especially when emergency services cannot be reached. He explained that “In the Manguier neighbourhood, a fire broke out in a neighbour’s house. He dialled the number of the fire brigade but network fluctuation made the call not to go through till about 30, minutes when the house was almost completely reduced to ashes that the call successfully went through”.

To him, mobile telephone service providers should not concentrate on the race of switching generations but work on improving the quality of the network.

Its more than a year since the mobile telephone service providers switched to 3G and other switch to 4G, but users say no change is felt is quality of telephone or internet signals. Faisop Charles Ngeh said since six months ago when he six to 3G services, the quality of services has not increased as he expected.

Agha Nelson Asah another user laments those recurrent inconsistencies in network coverage saying it has made its miss several business opportunities. “There are times I have a business deal but I call and receive a message telling me the number I call frequently is “incorrect” or not available. At times I miss the opportunity that came at that time; you know a minute gone can never be recalled.”

While some users are not sure of the effectiveness of the switch over to 3G, the Telecommunications Regulatory Board affirms that the companies have effectively switched but the problems lies at the level of updating transmission lines.

The Sub Director of Evaluation and Technical control at the Telecommunications Regulatory Board, Benjamin Minko said “the switch over requires that a lot of technical installations be upgraded to 3G. The current broadcast equipment are overloaded and optical fibre is absolutely needed”.

The several transmission lines in Yaoundé are is far from solving the frustrations that erupt when users wait endless and unsuccessfully after many tries to place an urgent call.

User are now looking on the the operator and the government for a way out especially as the demand for internet and telephone services will significantly increase during the Women’s African Cup of Nations that Cameroon will host in November.