Cameroon Telecommunications, known as CAMTEL, has secured a syndicated financing package of 44.9 billion CFA francs (about $75 million) to support the first phase of its Mobile Network Expansion Project, marking a significant step in the state-owned operator’s effort to scale mobile connectivity nationwide.

The financing agreement was signed Wednesday with Commercial Bank Cameroon, according to a statement published by CAMTEL.

The funds will be used to densify, decongest and extend mobile network infrastructure, with the aim of improving service quality and widening digital access across the country.

CAMTEL said the initial rollout will prioritize regional and departmental capitals, university cities, strategic economic zones and rural areas that remain weakly served by existing mobile networks.

The operator said the project is intended to ease network congestion in high-demand areas while extending coverage to communities that remain outside reliable mobile reach.

Beyond physical infrastructure, the Mobile Network Expansion Project is positioned as a support mechanism for Cameroon’s digital economy.

CAMTEL said expanded and more reliable mobile coverage is expected to benefit businesses, startups and the delivery of digital public services, as mobile connectivity increasingly underpins commercial activity, innovation and administrative systems.

The project comes as Cameroon continues to face uneven digital penetration, with strong demand growth in urban centers and persistent coverage gaps in rural regions.

CAMTEL did not disclose a detailed implementation timeline for the first phase or the total projected cost of the full Mobile Network Expansion Project.