YooMee Africa to bring 4G to Cameroon and Chad

Among the projects being financed by the 40 billion FCfa bond loan launched by the Fonds Africain de Garantie et de Cooperation Economique or African Guarantee and Economic Cooperation Fund (Fagace), currently being subscribed to on the Central African Securities Exchange (BVMAC) and the Douala Stock Exchange (DSX) until June 30, 2014, is the setting-up of 4G technology in Cameroon and Chad by the internet provider, YooMee Africa.

The project was announced on June 10, 2014 in Douala, the economic capital, during a bond loan presentation made by Fagace to Cameroonian investors.

This announcement is all the more surprising since, if the Chadian government issued a 3G and 4G licence on April 8, 2014 to the telecommunications operator Airtel, in Cameroon, one has to wonder what will become of the 3G monopoly previously granted to the third mobile telephone service provider, Viettel Cameroon, whose activities are slated to begin in September 2014 after two false alarms in January and March.

To benefit from its 3G exclusivity, the innovative technology also coveted by its competitors, namely MTN and Orange and, potentially YooMee which has been aiming for 4G; Viettel Cameroon has submitted a request to the Cameroonian government for an extension on its monopoly arrangement until 2016.

From this point of view, by announcing its 4G plans for Cameroon, YooMee Africa has brought to the forefront again the delay Cameroon has suffered in 3G and 4G technologies in telecommunications and increases the pressure on the Cameroonian authorities.