Cameroon has begun turning its telecom networks into weapons against smuggled smartphones, ordering operators to disconnect mobile phones and digital devices that were not cleared through customs in a dramatic escalation of the country’s fight against illegal imports.
The move places millions of dollars in trade, tax revenue and consumer access at the centre of a growing African battle over who controls the continent’s booming digital economy.
In a directive signed by Customs Director General Fongod Edwin Nuvaga, telecom operators were instructed to begin blocking undeclared devices from local networks starting May 25.
The order affects the country’s biggest operators, including MTN Group’s Cameroon business, Orange S.A.’s local subsidiary and state-owned Camtel.
Under the new regime, imported phones, tablets and other digital devices must first pass through Cameroon’s electronic customs clearance system before they can connect to local telecom networks.
