Vodafone quits Cameroon after losing licence over poor service

Cameroon telecommunications giant Vodafone Cameroon has ended its operations in the country on Friday after the withdrawal of its license.
The service provider which started operations in 2016 said in a statement that it was no longer commercially viable to resume services in Cameroon after it was suspended in September.
“After the withdrawal of our license by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and the Telecoms Regulatory Board and the suspension of our services from 14 September 2017, the operator of the company, Afrimax Cameroon, concluded reluctantly that it was no longer commercially viable to resume services in Cameroon. As a result, Vodafone Cameroon has ceased operations with immediate effect,” it said in a statement.
Afrimax Group operates Vodafone Cameroon which was formed through a non-equity partner market agreement with Vodafone.
The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications and the Telecoms Regulatory Board suspended the license of the company which was issued to a different company, Northwave SARL.
Afrimax acquired Northwave SARL, yet the authorities claim the use of its license was illegal. The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng, directed Vodafone Cameroon to acquire its own license.
“I’ve had discussions with Vodafone Cameroon officials in recent months, and I’ve told them that they have to apply for a license in good form and will have to pay to provide 4G LTE to the population,” said the minister who added that under the law, licenses are personal, non-transferable and do not confer any right of exclusivity.
The action halted the operations of the company which was about to extend its 4G LTE mobile internet service to all the country’s ten regions being the first to introduce the service into the country.
Vodafone Cameroon became the fastest growing telecommunications company in the country by gaining 15,000 customers in only four months of operation and representing more than 80% of the telecom market.
The company is valued at 40 million dollars and has 116 employees around the country.
“Afrimax again apologizes for any disruption experienced by customers, businesses and suppliers, and wishes to thank Vodafone Cameroon’s loyal staff for their hard work, enthusiasm and support,” the company added in the statement posted on its website.
It would be recalled that Afrimax went into partnership deal with Vodafone to offer 4G LTE service in 12 sub-saharan African countries last year. The deal excluded Ghana because in Ghana, Afrimax obtained what law makers have described as a “back door” authorization to roll out a 4G network through Busy Ghana.