IHS Cameroon has launched the ‘Tower Kiosk’ initiative in the rural communities of Idenau, Santa, and Tombel in Cameroon’s northwest and southwest regions, with the intent to enhance connectivity and digital services. These kiosks will offer free internet access and support local businesses and entrepreneurs.
They will also function as a digital infrastructure for eCommerce, e-education, e-health, and e-governance activities, in addition to collecting health-related data from the community.
The launch event was attended by Cameroon’s Prime Minister, Dr. Joseph Dion Ngute, along with dignitaries from the respective regions.
By 2025, IHS plans to establish ten kiosks in total, distributing them evenly between the two regions. The 20-foot kiosks, powered by nearby towers, will be equipped with computers, printers, and charging ports. For this initiative, the telecom infrastructure provider has partnered with local and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and will oversee the daily operations of the kiosks.
Olufemi Arosanyin, the CEO of IHS Cameroon, has stated that the initiative aims to foster greater community involvement by reaching out to at least 5,000 community members. Arosanyin further remarked that the tower kiosk initiative is set to enhance people’s access to online resources and increase their engagement in public life.
Echoing his sentiments, Prime Minister Ngute asserted, “Significant progress has been made in these regions to restore public life, and we are thrilled to witness the commencement of the ‘Tower Kiosk by IHS Cameroon’ initiative. This initiative is timely as we persist in our efforts towards resolving this conflict and restoring peace.”
This development follows IHS Cameroon’s earlier announcement in October 2023, where it revealed plans to establish ICT centres at the Government Bilingual High School (GBHS) Sodiko in Bonaberi, Douala. Catering to over 2,000 students, GBHS Sodiko is a school for internally displaced persons from the Northwest and Southwest conflict zones in Cameroon.
The objective was to enhance educational accessibility via mobile connectivity and digital literacy. As part of the initiative, IHS Cameroon built a new facility equipped with 30 computers, video conferencing facilities, and internet connectivity.
The IHS Towers Group is involved in the management and provision of shared communication infrastructure services. Based on information provided by IHS, it operates in 11 countries across three regions, managing a portfolio of over 30,000 towers.
