Cameroon 'can become telecoms leader in Africa'

12 November 2010

More time needs to be spent on making Cameroon a leader in telecoms in Africa, one expert has claimed.

Jamal Saghir, the World Bank's Africa director for sustainable development, noted it is important the country develops programmes that will benefit economic growth across the nation.

"Cameroon has a great potential to be a regional leader on telecommunications," he remarked. "It is not only geographically well located to be a regional hub, it also has a qualified workforce."

Mr Saghir revealed a regional structure for the development of open access to fibre optic cables has been discussed, which would be sponsored by the World Bank-financed Central African Backbone project.

This view was endorsed by Mary Barton-Dock - the group's country director for Cameroon - and she said there are numerous opportunities for both farmers and entrepreneurs in the continent.

Kunbi Oguneye, chief executive of Nigerian Internet solutions provider Suburban Telecom, recently told the Sowetan that Africa has to improve its internet infrastructure.
 

Category: ICT