While in Cameroon, operators and authorities are talking about a gradual return, in this West African country, the South African mobile telephony giant has announced a complete restoration of the internet connection this March 20, 2024.
« Dear subscribers and partners, we are pleased to announce that the fluidity of our Internet service is now restored. We thank you for your patience and understanding,” it is said on the digital platform of the Beninese subsidiary of MTN (Mobile Telephone Network). At this
press release widely relayed on social networks, the internet connection would now be fully restored in this West African country, after a disruption of almost two weeks.
Aware of the damage that the termination of the connection has caused to companies as well as to many other subscribers, the company has announced a number of compensatory measures for the benefit of consumers. “We announce that we have taken the following measures, effective from March 20, 2024: (1), all packages expired since the incident will be returned with a validity of up to 7 days; (2) All packages active during this period of disruption will be extended; (3) For unlimited plans, we are lifting the limitation,” adds the press release according to the EcoFinance online site. Net.
As a reminder, it is since the morning of March 14 that internet access has been disrupted in Cameroon as well as in several other African countries (Ghana, Ivory Coast, Benin, etc.) due to major incidents in three submarine cables (Wacs, Sat3 and Main One).
With Cameroon connected to two of these cables, experts indicate that these disruptions have already caused enormous damage to the national economy. Even if a figure has not yet been put forward, they estimate the losses at tens of billions of CFA francs for companies and other Startups whose activities depend entirely or almost on the fluidity of the internet connection. It remains to be seen whether in the land of the Indomitable Lions, measures will be taken to compensate for the shortfalls recorded so far.
While waiting for a definitive return to normal, Cameroonian subscribers continue to make do with a poor quality connection.
Julien Efila
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