Editing Telecommunications in Cameroon (section)

==Internet==

* [[Top-level domain]]: [[.cm]]<ref name=CIAWFB-Cameroon-2014/>
* [[List of countries by number of Internet users|Internet users]]:
** 1.1 million users, 113th in the world; 5.7% of the population, 184th in the world (2012).<ref name=NIUCalc>Calculated using penetration rate and population data from [https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/rank.php "Countries and Areas Ranked by Population: 2012"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329060848/https://www.census.gov/population/international/data/idb/rank.php |date=2017-03-29 }}, Population data, International Programs,  U.S. Census Bureau, retrieved 26 June 2013</ref><ref name=ITU-IndividualsUsingTheInternet>[http://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Statistics/Documents/statistics/2013/Individuals_Internet_2000-2012.xls "Percentage of Individuals using the Internet 2000-2012"], International Telecommunication Union (Geneva), June 2013, retrieved 22 June 2013</ref>
** 985,565 users (2011);
** 749,600 users, 106th in the world (2009).<ref name=CIAWFB-Cameroon-2014/>
* [[List of countries by number of broadband Internet subscriptions|Fixed broadband]]: 1,006 subscriptions, 180th in the world; less than 0.05% of the population, 190th in the world (2012).<ref name=NIUCalc/><ref name="FixedBroadbandITUDynamic2012">[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Fixed (wired)-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"], Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, [[International Telecommunication Union]]. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.</ref>
* [[List of countries by number of broadband Internet subscriptions|Wireless broadband]]: Unknown (2012).<ref name="MobleBroadbandITUDynamic2012">[http://www.itu.int/ITU-D/ICTEYE/Reporting/DynamicReportWizard.aspx "Active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants 2012"], Dynamic Report, ITU ITC EYE, [[International Telecommunication Union]]. Retrieved on 29 June 2013.</ref>
* [[List of countries by number of Internet hosts|Internet hosts]]:
** 10,207 hosts, 134th in the world (2012);<ref name=CIAWFB-Cameroon-2014/>
** &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;69 hosts (2008).
* [[List of countries by IPv4 address allocation|IPv4]]: 137,728 addresses allocated, less than 0.05% of the world total, 6.8 addresses per 1000 people (2012).<ref>[http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ Select Formats] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090513033601/http://www.countryipblocks.net/country-blocks/select-formats/ |date=2009-05-13 }}, Country IP Blocks. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Site is said to be updated daily.</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070613003851/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2119.html Population], [[The World Factbook]], [[United States]] [[Central Intelligence Agency]]. Accessed on 2 April 2012. Note: Data are mostly for 1 July 2012.</ref>
* [[Internet service provider]]s (ISPs): 
** Creolink Communications<ref>[http://www.creolink.com/ "Creolink Communications"], website. Retrieved 8 February 2014.</ref>

A number of projects are underway that will improve Internet access, telecommunications, and [[Information and communications technology]] (ICT) in general:<ref>[http://world2013.itu.int/exhibitors/cameroon-pavilion/ "Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, Cameroon"], Telecom World, International Telecommunication Union, 19–22 November 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2014.</ref>
* Implementation of the e-post project, connecting 234 post offices throughout the country;
* Extension of the national optical fiber network, installation of the initial 3,200&nbsp;km of fiber is complete and studies for the installation of an additional 3,400&nbsp;km are underway;
* Construction of multipurpose community telecentres, some 115 telecentres are operating with an additional 205 under construction;
* Construction of metropolitan optical loops, the urban optical loop of [[Douala]] is complete and construction of the [[Yaounde]] loop is underway;
* Construction of submarine cable landing points;
* Establishment of [[public key infrastructure]] (PKI);
* Construction of a regional technology park to support the development of ICTs.

===Internet censorship and surveillance===

There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet or reports that the government monitors [[e-mail]] or Internet [[chat rooms]].<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Cameroon-2012>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/humanrightsreport/index.htm?year=2012&dlid=204097 "Cameroon"], ''Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012'', Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 22 March 2013. Retrieved 8 February 2014.</ref>

Although the law provides for [[freedom of speech]] and [[freedom of the press|press]], it also criminalizes media offenses, and the government restricts freedoms of speech and press. Government officials threaten, harass, arrest, and deny equal treatment to individuals or organizations that criticize government policies or express views at odds with government policy. Individuals who criticize the government publicly or privately sometimes face reprisals. Press freedom is constrained by strict [[libel]] laws that suppress criticism. These laws authorize the government, at its discretion and the request of the plaintiff, to criminalize a civil libel suit or to initiate a criminal libel suit in cases of alleged libel against the president and other high government officials. Such crimes are punishable by prison terms and heavy fines.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Cameroon-2012/>

Although the constitution and law prohibit arbitrary interference with privacy, family, home, or correspondence, these rights are subject to restriction for the "higher interests of the state", and there are credible reports that police and gendarmes harass citizens, conduct searches without warrants, and open or seize mail with impunity.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Cameroon-2012/>