Officials of Cameroon Telecommunications (CAMTEL) yesterday announced that work is progressing on the national optical fibre backbone and that the 18-month deadline given the project will be respected.

They made the disclosure during a press conference at the CAMTEL head office in Yaounde. According to the Chief of Cabinet of the General Manager, Marcellin Tsaam Gah, who sat in for the General Manager, David Nkoto Emane, 2010 represents a lot for CAMTEL vis-à-vis the optical fibre project. Describing 2010 as, "L'année des chantiers", Mr Marcellin Tsaam Gah said CAMTEL will leave nothing to chance to ensure that the project is well executed so as to boost telecommunications in the country. He said it will also mark an end to the numerous problems of telecommunications in the country.

The project was launched on December 22, 2009 through the laying of the foundation stone in Kye-Ossi, Ntem Valley of the South Region by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Jean Pierre Biyiti Bi Essam. Upon completion of the 3200-Kilometres project, the country's ten regions will be interconnected by network, universities, enterprises and companies, 72 localities and technical points will be connected to the network while there will be high internet bandwidth in 16 points.