(Business in Cameroon) - Initiated by Fréderic Debord (photo) and Moïse Bayi, respective managing directors of Orange Cameroon and Nexttel, an association of mobile telephony operators in activity in Cameroon has been created. Named Association des opérateurs concessionnaires de téléphonie mobile au Cameroun (AOCTM) it will be an avenue for dialogues between telecom operators, the regulator and the supervisory administration, says Fréderic Debord, president of the AOCTM.
The new organization will promote mobile telephony operators and electronic communications’ development in Cameroon. It will take all the appropriate actions, be them administrative or legal, to protect its members’ collective interests.
AOCTM’s statutes indicate that it is open to any operator that has signed a mobile telephony concession agreement with Cameroon and registered itself as an operator with the regulatory agency. Three operators are already qualified as members of this organization. They are Orange, Nexttel and MTN.
Even though it is not stated in its goals, this organization seems like a syndicate which will be a bargaining power for negotiations with the regulator and the ministry of posts and telecommunications. Solidarity is thus expected between the operators in case of sanctions or government institutions’ complaints against mobile telephony operators.
S.A