Cameroon Communications

Country code: 237. International calls can be made from Camtel offices. Telephones can usually be found in post offices and restaurants, and there are telephone booths in the towns. Phonecards are available. The phone service is often unreliable.

Roaming agreements exist with a number of international mobile phone companies. Coverage is patchy but better in the south.

Main towns will have Internet cafes. Charges are significantly higher outside Yaoundé and Douala. The service is often slow and unreliable.

Stamps can only be obtained from post offices. Mail usually takes at least a week to reach Europe. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0730-1530.

Media is highly government controlled. However, a general liberalisation of media in 2000 led to Cameroon's first private TV station being launched in 2001, with a spate of others quick to follow. 

Nevertheless, libel laws inhibit journalists and some have even been jailed in the past. This is regarded as a genuine problem by the international community, who believe that Cameroon is becoming one of the most repressive countries worldwide in regards to freedom of expression.

• The main newspaper is the government-controlled Cameroon Tribune, published daily in French and English.
• Other English-language newspapers include The Post (weekly) and The Herald (three times a week).
• Privately-run French-language papers include Le Massager, Mutations (daily) and La Nouvelle Expression.

• Cameroon Radio Television is the state-run broadcaster, whilst Canal 2 and STV are private broadcasters.

• Cameroon Radio Television also operates state-run radio stations.
• Radio Reine is a Catholic-owned station.
• Radio Siantou is a private broadcaster.