Cameroon state-owned telecommunications operator, CAMTEL, has entered into a strategic partnership with Ethiopia’s Ethio Telecom to accelerate digital transformation across the country.

The agreement was announced in Yaoundé and presented to Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute. Under the partnership, Ethio Telecom will support the digitalization of public services, expand wireless connectivity, promote mobile money adoption, roll out 5G technology, and assist in establishing a sovereign government cloud.

Ethio Telecom will also collaborate with CAMTEL to launch Blue Money, CAMTEL’s first mobile money service. This marks CAMTEL’s entry into a highly competitive market currently dominated by MTN and Orange. Although Cameroon accounts for more than 60 percent of mobile money accounts and over 75 percent of transaction value within the CEMAC region, CAMTEL has so far played a limited role in the sector.

According to CAMTEL, the partnership is aimed at replicating Ethiopia’s digital success by leveraging Ethio Telecom’s experience. CAMTEL’s General Manager, Judith Yah Sunday, said Africa does not need to rely entirely on imported digital models and can build its own solutions.

Ethio Telecom is Africa’s largest state-owned telecommunications company, serving more than 80 million users. The company reported revenues exceeding $2.8 billion this year and has played a key role in Ethiopia’s digital transformation. Its initiatives include the rollout of the Fayda national digital ID system, which is now used by nearly 30 million Ethiopians.

The partnership highlights Ethiopia’s growing influence as a regional digital powerhouse and reflects a broader shift toward African-led solutions for Africa’s digital future.