• CAMTEL signs a three-year deal with Ethio Telecom to support digital modernisation and prepare the launch of its Blue Money service.

• The partnership covers public-service digitisation, network upgrades, and organisational transformation backed by Ethiopia’s telecom expertise.

• The agreement supports Cameroon’s digital strategy as CAMTEL seeks to strengthen competitiveness in connectivity and mobile-money services.

Cameroon’s state-owned operator CAMTEL has signed a three-year Master Service Agreement (MSA) with Ethiopia’s Ethio Telecom as it prepares to launch its mobile-money service, Blue Money, in 2026. The agreement, formalised on 4 December in Yaoundé, aims to strengthen CAMTEL’s digital capabilities through technical support and knowledge-sharing with one of Africa’s largest public telecom operators.

The signing followed several months of exchanges between the two companies and was endorsed during an audience with Cameroon’s Prime Minister. CAMTEL General Manager Judith Yah Sunday Epse Achidi and Ethio Telecom CEO Frehiwot Tamiru signed the partnership on behalf of their institutions. Both operators presented the MSA as part of a broader effort to deepen South–South cooperation in Africa’s digital and telecommunications sectors.

According to CAMTEL, the agreement is designed to advance several national priorities, beginning with the development of Blue Money, its forthcoming electronic payment service. It also supports the digitisation of public services, including the creation of a sovereign government cloud to improve data governance and service delivery. Another significant component of the partnership is the modernisation of CAMTEL’s telecom networks, particularly efforts to deploy 4G and 5G and improve operational performance. The MSA further aims to support internal organisational transformation to strengthen efficiency and customer service.

Ethio Telecom brings relevant experience in large-scale network expansion and digital-service rollout. The company serves more than 86 million subscribers and recorded 731 billion FCFA in revenue, according to figures cited by CAMTEL during the ceremony. Over the past six years, Ethio Telecom has expanded Ethiopia’s national fibre backbone, deployed 4G and 5G across major urban areas, and launched Telebirr, its mobile-money platform, which has become a central component of Ethiopia’s digital economy.

CAMTEL’s interest in this expertise reflects the competitive landscape in Cameroon’s telecom and fintech markets. Mobile-money services are currently dominated by MTN Mobile Money and Orange Money, which account for the vast majority of transactions nationwide. The introduction of Blue Money will require robust technical architecture, distribution capacity and service reliability. Ethio Telecom’s experience in scaling Telebirr from launch to nationwide adoption offers a practical benchmark for CAMTEL as it prepares to enter the sector.

The partnership aligns with Cameroon’s national digital strategy and the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy 2020–2030, which emphasises modern digital infrastructure and financial inclusion. For Ethio Telecom, the agreement comes at a time when the Ethiopian market is undergoing significant change following the entry of Safaricom Ethiopia in 2022. The company continues to modernise its systems and operations to remain competitive, making its recent transformation particularly relevant for peer operators across the continent.

Ahead of the signing, the Ethiopian delegation held technical discussions at CAMTEL headquarters to explore opportunities for cooperation in network management, digital platforms, and organisational development. The two CEOs later met with Cameroon’s Prime Minister, who welcomed the agreement as a contribution to the country’s broader efforts to modernise public administration and expand digital access.

The three-year MSA establishes a framework for capacity-building, technical assistance and strategic guidance as CAMTEL pursues its digitalisation objectives. According to the operator, the partnership is expected to improve service delivery for consumers and businesses, strengthen public-sector digital infrastructure and enhance CAMTEL’s competitiveness in connectivity and electronic payments. While successful implementation will require coordination with national regulatory frameworks and administrative processes, the agreement provides CAMTEL with access to continental expertise as it advances its digital transformation agenda.

Mercy Fosoh