- (Business in Cameroon) – Cameroon is represented at the World Telecommunication Development Conference (WTDC-25) by TRB Director General Prof. Philémon Zoo Zame at WTDC-25 in Baku.
- The country joins International Communication Union member states in setting global digital development targets for 2026–2029.
- A new Action Plan to be developed will focus on universal connectivity, cybersecurity, digital skills and innovation.
The World Telecommunication Development Conference 2025 (WTDC-25) opened on 17 November in Baku, where ITU member states began negotiations to set digital development priorities for the 2026–2029 cycle. The event will run till November 28, 2025. Cameroon is represented by the Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Board (TRB), Professor Philémon Zoo Zame, who says their participation supports national efforts to advance digital transformation through modern, adaptive regulation.
According to information published by the TRB and the ITU, member states will examine obstacles to meaningful connectivity, particularly in underserved regions, while setting new regional and global targets for broadband access, affordability, cybersecurity readiness, digital capacity-building and support for small technology enterprises. TRB’s statement after day one of the event made known that Cameroon’s delegation is entering the talks with harmonised national positions developed across 14 preparatory sessions involving TRB, ANTIC, SUP’PTIC and CAMTEL, building on continental consultations in Nairobi, Windhoek and Abidjan that produced the Common African Proposals.
“The presence of a TRB delegation at this high-level meeting underscores how crucial WTDC-25 is for the future of Cameroon’s digital landscape. As a central driver of the sector’s modernization through proactive and adaptive regulation, the Board aims to contribute meaningfully to the decisions that will guide telecommunications in the coming years,” TRB wrote. Stressing Cameroon’s intention to align its national digital strategy with international best practices and strengthen its role in global digital governance.
The outcomes of WTDC-25, including a new Declaration and Action Plan, are expected to shape international cooperation on digital infrastructure, secure connectivity, user protection and digital inclusion. For Cameroon, the TRB notes that the resolutions could help expand rural connectivity, reinforce critical infrastructure security, encourage innovation, and broaden opportunities for women, youth and digital entrepreneurs.
Early figures presented at the conference illustrate the scale of the task ahead: more than 1,500 participants, including over 65 ministers, are attending the Baku meeting to address a global connectivity gap affecting billions. Across developing regions, economic, geographic and gender-related barriers continue to limit digital access, with the ITU noting that Least Developed Countries remain the furthest behind despite recent progress. WTDC-25’s decisions are expected to guide financing, technical cooperation and regulatory reforms aimed at narrowing these disparities.
By Cynthia Ebot Takang
