aug 20, 2019 - Mobile telephony - A new sanction for the three operators

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Orange, Viettel and MTN must pay fines ranging from one billion to one and a half billion F for lack of identification of subscribers and possession by individuals of more than three chips

The Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ART) has imposed pecuniary sanctions on three mobile operators operating in Cameroon. These are Viettel, MTN Cameroon and Orange Cameroon. The former will have to pay F 1 billion in penalties for lack of identification of subscribers and terminal equipment of electronic communications networks, including the marketing of pre-activated SIM cards and the marketing of SIM cards in the streets. The same amount in terms of penalties is required for MTN for the same reasons. However, Orange is obliged to pay a sum of 1.5 billion F. In addition to two discrepancies that are alleged against MTN and Viettel, the regulator found that some natural persons held more than three SIM cards owned by Orange. The latter is found with three reasons, "why the amount is the highest," says an official at the ART.

This information is contained in a communiqué signed by the Director General of ART and signed on 19 August 2019. According to the DG's note, the penalties imposed on the three operators are "enforceable by operation of law and immediate execution notwithstanding any appeal ". It is also indicated for each of these operators that these penalties take effect from the date of notification. It must also be remembered that these decisions were made since last July.

To arrive at these sanctions, the Cameroonian telecom policeman claims to have descended on the ground. Indeed, in these decisions, it is specified that controls were carried out in 2018 by the ART, in several localities of Cameroon in April. It is apparent to these three operators that they have not complied with the regulations in force. In order to bring them back to order, formal notices were notified to them. Apparently without change since during the counter-checks carried out in these same cities, these irregularities were confirmed. Meanwhile, there have been sensitization but "no relevant element, in their defense, was produced by them at the end of the period prescribed by the formal notices", can read.

Given the obligation to identify subscribers of electronic communication services, the Regulatory Agency was forced to crack down by imposing these penalties. And as one ART official explained, despite all the efforts made, they reoffend. "Sanction is the only weapon we have," he concludes. ? Orange, Viettel and MTN must pay fines ranging from one billion to one and a half billion F for lack of identification of subscribers and possession by individuals of more than three chips. SIM cards continue to be sold freely on the street.

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