The Cameroonian Minister of Postal Services and Telecommunications, Jean Pierre Biyiti bi Essam, has just received engineers and internet providers at a workshop on “technical aspects related to the implementation of internet access points in Cameroon”. The implementation of this infrastructure is intended to reduce communication costs via the internet and reduce dependence on foreign networks. Currently, a document sent on the internet between persons residing in Cameroon transits through a foreign network before being delivered.

“Cameroon needs to have internet access points, because what we’re seeing happening in the virtual world is similar to what is occurring in the area of transportation in real life. If you have to fly to Paris in order to travel between Yaoundé and Addis-Abeba, it will be a lot more expensive than a direct flight,” explained Minister Biyiti bi Essam (photo) to the government daily publication, Cameroon Tribune.

This mandatory transit through foreign networks, reveals the government publication, while citing a study conducted in 2003 by telecom entities, “costs Africa 600 million dollars (around 300 billion FCfa)” each year.