CAMTEL, SIC Sign Agreement to Bring Fibre Connectivity to SIC Housing

By Martial Gnoukapasir 

CAMTEL's GM Shake hands with SIC DG after signing of agreement

Cameroon Telecommunications (CAMTEL) and Cameroon Real Estate Corporation, better known by its French appellation, Société Immobilière du Cameroun (SIC), have signed a framework agreement aimed at improving internet connectivity in SIC social housing structures across the country.

The agreement was signed Wednesday, October 7, at CAMTEL's head office in the nation's capital, Yaoundé, and provides for the gradual deployment of optical fibre in existing SIC housing and the integration of connectivity infrastructure into the corporation's future housing programmes.

The partnership is intended to bring internet services closer to residents, allowing them to study, work and carry out administrative tasks online from their homes.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, the General Manager of SIC, Ahmadou Sardaouna, welcomed the agreement, describing it as an opportunity to improve the services offered to the company's clients.

“It is a good opportunity. This ceremony is a mark of reform for the services offered by the two companies to our clients and to deliver a responsible action of government's instructions.”

Ahmadou Sardaouna speaking at signing ceremony

He said connectivity would be an important part of the company's future housing projects, particularly as the corporation prepares to ensure the operationalisation of its new sites.

Mr Ahmadou Sardaouna further described the initiative as an extension of SIC's social housing mission and equally expressed satisfaction that CAMTEL's offer stands to benefit more than 30,000 of the company's clients.

“We have social housing, now social connectivity is coming to them,” he said.

For CAMTEL, the agreement has been designed to anticipate the connectivity needs of residents, rather than waiting for individuals to request connections after moving into these houses.

Judith Yah Sunday Epse Achidi, CAMTEL's General Manager, said internet access has become essential for families, schools, businesses and public institutions. This is why CAMTEL plans to pre-cable SIC buildings so that residents can obtain connections more easily.

“Today, we can't do without communications. Our children need connectivity for learning, parents need it to work and institutions need it to connect their different sites and to transfer data,” she said.

Camtel's GM, Judith Yah Sunday epse Achidi speaking at signing ceremony

“We are going to pre-cable all the buildings, in such a way that its occupants won't need to come to CAMTEL individually to seek connections. They'll have it automatically once they move into these buildings.”

CAMTEL's General Manager confirmed that the offer comes with a significant reduction in cost for SIC residents.

Judith Yah Sunday Epse Achidi had earlier explained that discussions between the two institutions had led to a proposed preferential package for SIC residents, comprising an access fee of 25,000 FCFA, including tax, and a monthly fee of 15,000 FCFA, including tax.

The precise terms and conditions of the offer are still to be jointly finalised.

She said residents would be provided with clear information about the eligibility of their homes, the characteristics of the service and subscription conditions.

The project has been associated with approximately 12,000 SIC housing units, even though CAMTEL used the signing ceremony to clarify that this does not mean all 12,000 homes will be connected immediately.

signing proper

Implementation will be progressive, based on technical studies and priorities agreed upon by CAMTEL and SIC.

The first sites and deployment timetable are expected to be determined as the partnership moves into its implementation phase.

She emphasised that the success of the project would ultimately be measured by the number of homes connected, the services activated and the experience of residents in terms of quality.

“Our objective is for the fibre deployed to translate into a reliable service in people's homes.”

At the signing ceremony, she also explained that connectivity has become an essential component of modern housing and should be considered alongside other basic infrastructure.

She said planning cable routes, connection points and access to homes from the design stage would help avoid complex interventions.

In all, the agreement represents a move towards combining social housing with access to digital services, according to SIC, while for CAMTEL, it provides an opportunity to bring fibre connectivity directly into residential buildings.

Both institutions are now expected to work together on identifying the first sites, organising deployment and monitoring the results.

In other words, this translates to ensuring that residents do not only have access to housing, but also to the connectivity required to study, work, communicate and access essential services from home.

The partnership, according to CAMTEL's General Manager, is in line with the country's broader digital transformation programme.