CAMTEL’s head office yesterday July 21, 2025 welcomed a delegation from the Yaoundé International War College, to elaborate on data security, a top priority for Cameroon.
Cameroon telecommunications company, CAMTEL and the Yaoundé International War College, ESIG, have once more reviewed the fruitful tie that has existed between two institutions over the years particularly in the field of safeguarding national cyber security. The two institutions reviewed the tie during a visit by officials of the International war college at the CAMTEL head office in Yaoundé yesterday.
The visit coincided with the War College’s 20th anniversary celebrations. Authorities in the course of discussions during the visit, drummed the critical role that the cooperation between the two bodies have played in addressing personal data protection which the said has become a top priority for Cameroon. They highlighted the role that CAMTEL as an institution that boost of a robust telecommunications infrastructure, have played in addressing the growing and more sophisticated cyber threats that have now expanded to range from data leaks to ransom ware.
The Head of Sales Coordination at CAMTEL, Mathilde Abouem Mouangue, guided the delegation through the telecom operator’s infrastructure, emphasizing its importance in securing national data.
Enter CAMTEL officials
Technical adviser N°1 to the General Manager of CAMTEL, Francis Ottou emphasized that data is no longer just files but encompasses identities, behaviors, and national security interests. One of the key concerns that were raised by the authorities was how CAMTEL has been able to ensure that data collected in Cameroon remains within the country. “Data hosting within Cameroon is an instrument of digital sovereignty,” the Head of Sales Coordination at CAMTEL, Mathilde Abouem Mouangue, stated.
She however acknowledged that more must be done to improve local internet traffic exchange. She revealed that at the moment, much of Cameroon’s data still routes through foreign servers before returning, assuring that CAMTEL is working to strengthen the country’s internal exchange points to tackle the challenge.
Strengthening cyber defenses
Per CAMTEL officials, the institution has implemented multiple security strategies, including enhanced software protections, regulatory compliance, and network redundancies. The Technical Adviser N°1 to the General Manager of CAMTEL, Ottou Ottou however noted that human factors remain critical both as potential vulnerabilities and as the first line of defense when properly trained. He also acknowledged the essential role of defense and security forces in protecting physical infrastructure from sabotage and vandalism, which directly impacts national connectivity.
Ottou said modern threats require unified efforts, stressing that cybercrime operates across borders, blending economic, political, and strategic sabotage. To counter these risks, he said the cooperation between government, regulators, telecom operators, and users are vital. While military and telecom sectors operate differently, he said both share the goal of ensuring continuity and security.
Ottou Ottou concluded by reinforcing the importance of partnerships between civil, military, and digital institutions to face evolving threats. As CAMTEL protects digital infrastructure, official said Cameroon’s defense forces safeguard physical assets like cables and transmission sites from sabotage. They said together, the efforts strengthen national resilience against evolving security challenges.
