The call for a boycott of the two telecommunications operators enters into force this Monday, April 24, 2023 at 12 p.m. in Cameroun.
Operation “Airplane Mode”. For some time now, a call for a boycott of the two largest telecommunications operators in Cameroun, Orange and MTN, has been circulating on social networks and is causing a lot of ink to flow. This boycott campaign was launched by Cameroonians who accuse these operators of charging exorbitant rates and providing poor quality services.
The reasons for the boycott are multiple and diverse, but they all have one thing in common: the quality of services and the rates charged by Orange and MTN. Indeed, both operators are accused of offering poor quality services, with frequent network outages, endless waiting times for customer service, low internet speeds and rates deemed excessive.
In addition, consumer associations criticise these operators for not respecting the rules on the protection of personal data. Sensitive data of users would be collected and used without their consent, which is contrary to applicable law. Finally, the associations also accuse Orange and MTN of not complying with the tax laws in force in the country. According to these associations, these operators practice aggressive tax optimisation, by transferring part of their profits abroad, which has the effect of significantly reducing their tax contribution in the country.
The boycott of Orange and MTN operators can have important consequences on the country’s economy, because these two companies are the most important in terms of turnover and jobs created. The telecommunications sector is indeed a very important sector for the Cameroun economy, because it represents nearly 10% of GDP.
However, supporters of the boycott believe that the economic consequences must not be an obstacle to the exercise of their right to protest against practises deemed illegal or abusive. They also believe that operators should make more efforts to improve the quality of their services and reduce the rates charged.
The call for a boycott of Orange and MTN in Cameroun is motivated by legitimate consumer concerns about the quality of services, the protection of personal data and compliance with tax laws. However, the economic consequences of a boycott must be taken into account, and it is desirable that the authorities and operators work together to find solutions that respond to consumer concerns while ensuring the viability of the telecommunications sector.