In the aftermath of the interruption of Pope Leo XIV's speech broadcast from the Unity Palace, a controversy has erupted between CRTV, led by Charles Ndongo, and CAMTEL regarding the origin of the disruption. The public telecommunications operator has firmly rejected accusations pointing to a failure of its network.
In a statement dated April 16, 2026, CAMTEL asserts that no failures were recorded on its infrastructure during the broadcast of Pope Leo XIV's speech. The company specifies that there was "neither a fiber optic cable break nor internet network instability," adding that its supervision center did not detect any anomalies. According to CAMTEL, such a failure would have affected all users, which was not the case, as other channels continued to broadcast without interruption.
Judith Yah Sunday, the General Manager of CAMTEL, is questioning the technical choices made by CRTV during the event coverage. According to CAMTEL, CRTV favored autonomous devices, including a "Fly Away" satellite system and a TVU device based on mobile data from other operators, both at Nsimalen Airport and the Unity Palace. CAMTEL emphasizes that the main signal, therefore, did not pass through its network.
The operator also points out that a fiber optic cable break cannot be resolved in a few minutes, whereas the observed interruption was of short duration. CAMTEL states that no technical intervention was recorded on its facilities during this period. The company says it is willing to participate in a joint audit with CRTV to establish the facts and clarify responsibilities.
This clarification from CAMTEL comes in a context where the broadcast of Pope Leo XIV's speech has stirred strong reactions. The company aims to reassure its subscribers about the reliability of its infrastructure while calling for a rigorous technical analysis of the incidents that occurred. Pope Leo XIV's visit to Cameroon, which takes place from April 15 to 18, 2026, is a major event, and this broadcast incident has created some agitation. CAMTEL and CRTV will need to clarify the circumstances of this interruption to ensure the quality of future broadcasts.
