Cameroon is about to join the small circle of African countries with 5G. According to the telecom regulator (ART), the rollout is entering its final phase, following a public consultation launched in June 2025 on spectrum allocation.
But the promise of higher speeds and lower latency runs into persistent skepticism. A GSMA study notes that 5G adoption remains limited across the continent, held back by uneven infrastructure quality — in Cameroon, many users already struggle with unstable 4G connections.
The question facing operators is simple: what's the point of promising more speed if basic stability is still lacking? The success of Cameroon's 5G will depend less on the technology itself than on operators' ability to first guarantee a reliable experience.
Well managed, 5G could boost digital education, health and agriculture. Poorly supported, it mainly risks widening the gap between urban and rural areas.
