(Business in Cameroon) - On Wednesday, 11^th March 2015, the Cameroonian subsidiary of the South African telecom company, MTN, signed an agreement with the Cameroonian government to renew its mobile telephone service licence which expired at the start of the year. According to our sources, in 48 hours (March 13, 2015), the Orange group’s local subsidiary will also renew its licence.

After several weeks of back-and-forth, the two companies finally decided to pay the 75 billion FCFA demanded by the Cameroonian government to renew their licences, but this time with approval to rollout 3G and 4G technologies. To date, the duration of validity for the licences has not been disclosed.

It was certainly in light of Cameroon’s position that MTN, after its 35 billion FCFA offer for a 10-year licence, had sought a 13-year validity when it raised its offer to 65 billion FCFA. For the 75 billion FCFA fee, both companies secured a 15-year validity according to information which has not yet been confirmed.