Soccer Star, Samuel Eto’o Launches His Own Mobile Network in Cameroon

Anzhi Makhachkala forward Samuel Eto’o has set up a mobile network in his homeland Cameroon meant to create cheap access to communication for the population, while becoming the third mobile network operator in the central African nation behind French-owned Orange Telecom and South Africa-based multinational MTN.

Set’Mobile was launched on Thursday in Yaounde with more than 50,000 SIM cards already sold out, but the network will be activated on January 21, which is the opening day of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, the entity’s management said.
With a capital base of 100 million francs cfa (€152,449), Set’Mobile, which also bears the initials of the famous Anzhi striker, is intended to provide mobile Internet service alongside telephony.
The market penetration for mobile network in Cameroon is currently at 49 per cent below the fast growing rate of 75% in Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal and Ghana, which local observers see as enough room for the survivability of Eto’o’s new venture against stiff competition from giants Orange and MTN.
Eto’o is serving out a 15-match ban after he was found guilty by the Cameroon FA disciplinary committee of instigating a strike action that botched up a friendly match against Algeria on November 15.
The players said the action was to protest against the non-payment of match bonuses and a dysfunctional system.
The 30-year-old four-time African footballer of the year had declined to appeal the ruling and will likely miss much of the Lions’ qualifying campaign for the 2013 Afcon and 2014 World Cup.