[DIGITAL Business Africa] – By entering into a strategic cooperation with Ethio Telecom, CAMTEL is choosing to rely on one of Africa’s leading telecom innovators to accelerate Cameroon’s digital transformation. At the heart of this alliance lies a key priority: the expansion and scaling-up of Blue Money, CAMTEL’s electronic payment service, now positioned to become a central driver of the country’s digital economy.
On December 4, 2025, in Yaoundé, CAMTEL and Ethio Telecom signed a three-year Master Service Agreement (MSA). The ceremony, presided over by Judith Yah Sunday Epse Achidi, General Manager of CAMTEL, and Frehiwot Tamiru, CEO of Ethio Telecom, marked the launch of an unprecedented South–South partnership between two state-owned operators determined to accelerate Africa’s digital momentum.
A strategic partnership to advance Cameroon’s digital development
With more than 86 million subscribers, 16,000 employees, and a turnover of approximately 731 billion CFA francs, Ethio Telecom ranks among the continent’s most robust and structured telecom operators. Its remarkable transformation over the past six years—driven by significant infrastructure investments, extensive service digitalisation and rapid progress in financial inclusion—is now a source of inspiration for CAMTEL.
For Judith Yah Sunday, the objective is clear: to leverage a successful African model to accelerate CAMTEL’s internal restructuring, modernize its networks, digitalize its services, and, above all, scale up Blue Money. “Ethio Telecom is a model for us. They have transformed their country digitally. Their expertise will be essential to strengthening Blue Money and enhancing our ability to offer innovative financial services to Cameroonians,” she emphasised.
Blue Money at the centre of the CAMTEL–Ethio Telecom cooperation
Among the four priority pillars of the partnership, the expansion of Blue Money stands out as a strategic focus. CAMTEL intends to capitalise on Ethio Telecom’s expertise—particularly that gained through Telebirr, the most successful mobile money platform in the region with more than 40 million users.
This transfer of know-how will be crucial in several areas:
– upgrading Blue Money’s technical architecture
– strengthening the platform’s security and regulatory compliance
– expanding its distribution network
– developing new digital financial services tailored to local needs
– scaling the service through a more ambitious and structured commercial strategy
For CAMTEL, Blue Money is no longer a complementary product; it is a central major pillar of the company’s digital transformation and a key instrument to position the operator as a vital player in Cameroon’s mobile money landscape.
From public service digitalisation to network modernisation
Beyond Blue Money, the agreement also includes:
– support for deploying a sovereign Government Cloud
– modernisation of telecom networks, including 4G, 5G, and innovative technologies
– enhancement of customer experience
– training programmes, mentoring, and extensive knowledge transfer between Ethiopian and Cameroonian teams.
For Frehiwot Tamiru, CEO of Ethio Telecom, this partnership marks a significant step forward in intra-African cooperation. “CAMTEL is engaging in a complete transformation. We are privileged to stand by their side to share our proven experience, particularly in digital and financial solutions,” she stated.
An accelerator for Cameroon’s digital autonomy
By integrating the expertise of a continental leader, CAMTEL aims to enhance its competitiveness, improve service quality, and offer digital solutions that meet the expectations of both citizens and businesses.
This partnership could also help Blue Money emerge as a stronger and more attractive contender in Cameroon’s mobile money market—currently dominated by MTN Mobile Money and Orange Money—while supporting broader national initiatives in digital public service delivery.
The CAMTEL–Ethio Telecom cooperation underscores a growing reality in Africa’s digital landscape: the continent already possesses strong home-grown success models, and the future of its digital transformation will increasingly be built through South–South partnerships rooted in shared expertise and innovation.
If this collaboration delivers on its promises, Blue Money may soon become one of the most visible symbols of the new era of interconnectivity and modernisation that CAMTEL aims to drive.
By Digital Business Africa
