Under the agreement, Camtel will provide residents of State estates with quality optic fibre Internet, telephone, television and video services.

In order to make life easier for occupants of State low-cost housing estates across the country, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, MINHDU and that of Post and Telecommunications, through Camtel, on Friday, February 19, 2016, in Yaounde, signed an Information and Communication Technology, ICT connection deal.

Minister Jean Claude Mbwentchou signed for MINHDU while Camtel’s General Manager, David Nkoto Emane, signed for the State-owned telephone company. Speaking at the event, Minister Mbwentchou explained that the framework partnership agreement covers existing and future housing estates to be constructed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development across the country under the Programme for the Construction of Low-cost Houses. He said the deal was intended to keep 10,000 residents of State housing estates abreast of developments around the world.

While noting that the agreement comes soon after the visit to Cameroon of the Executive Director of UN Habitat, Dr Joan Clos, the Minister promised that teams will be set up to start work immediately. Jean Claude Mbwentchou expressed hope that other public utility suppliers like Eneo and Camwater will soon follow suit by providing electricity and water respectively to State housing estates.

Explaining what the framework partnership agreement entails, David Nkoto Emane said his company will through optic fibre technology provide quality fixed phone services, high-speed Internet connections, and enhanced digital television and video pictures to housing estates. Residents will be able - through Live Television – to watch, pause and later return to their favourite programmes or news bulletins; while Wi-Fi or wireless Internet services will also be made available.

According to Camtel’s General Manager, the Olembe, Yaounde and Mbanga Bakoko, Douala, housing estates will be the first to be served under the deal. “Work will be carried out according to approved standards by making use of Camtel’s experience in installing optic fibre networks,” Nkoto Emane assured. According to Camtel sources, the agreement with MINDHU is part of the dividends of the National Broadband Network, NBN programme intended to provide the country with quality telecommunication services to facilitate digital trade.