Brief history of shortwave broadcasting in Cameroon
By Tony Rogers - tony [at] bdxc.org.uk - Copyright British DX Club (January 2012)
There is seemingly no current shortwave broadcasting in Cameroon. Official shortwave
broadcasting from Cameroon Radio and Television appears to have ceased with Radio Buea
being the last heard (see below). CRTV national and regional stations are now only on FM (asdetailed in WRTH 2012)
The first radio station in Cameroon was started in what was the French sector of the country in theearly 1940's. This was located in the main seaport of Douala with just 150 Watts. After a break it
was revived in 1946 and continued its low power operations until upgraded in 1955. From 1955,
broadcasting in Cameroon was centred on the capital, Yaounde, and several provincial towns
around the country. These were located as follows:
Yaounde: radio was established in the capital in 1955 by SORAFOM, the French agency
responsible for implementing broadcasting aid projects overseas. Shortwave transmitters of 1 and
4 kW were initially installed and these remained in use for several years to come. A 30 kW
shortwave transmitter was added in 1962. In 1977, a new transmitter of 100 kW was installed,which greatly improved the reach of the National Service and also saw the introduction of anInternational Service. Frequencies used by Yaounde in the 1970's, 80's and 90's included 4850,4972, 6060 and 9745 kHz. The National Service from Yaounde was last reported in early 2000 on4850 kHz.
Douala: a 1 kW shortwave transmitter was installed in Douala by SORAFOM in 1955. This gave
several years service before eventually taken out of service, presumably due to its condition. In
1983, a new 100 kW shortwave transmitter was installed as part of a general upgrade for thestation. This transmitter operated on 4795 and 7150 kHz and lasted for twelve years or so. It waslast heard on shortwave in the mid-1990's. Radio Douala was referred to as the Litoral ProvincialStation.
Garoua: SORAFOM set up a radio station in Garoua in 1958, which included a 4 kW shortwave
transmitter. A 30 kW shortwave transmitter was added in 1964. In 1977 a new 100 kW transmitter
was installed and replaced that of 30 kW, whilst the 4 kW transmitter remained on standby. RadioGaroua was the Northern Provincial Station and operated on 5010 and 7240 kHz. It was last heardin the late 1990's.
Buea: broadcasting in Anglophone Cameroon had always depended on the Nigeria Broadcasting
Corporation for airing its programmes until a station was established in Buea in 1966. An initial 1kW shortwave transmitter was soon increased to 4 kW and this operated on 3970 and 6005 kHz as
the South-West Provincial Station. Radio Buea had been heard on 6005 kHz up until the early partof 2011 (reported daytime only 0700-1700), but James MacDonell in Niger State, Nigeria,
commented to DXLD on 21 October 2011 "I have not heard the elusive Cameroon transmitter on6005 [Buea] for several months now so I wonder if it is finally gone for good?"
Bertoua: the station at Bertoua was first heard on shortwave in 1977 when a 20 kW transmitter
was installed. It operated on 4750 and 7195 kHz and was the Eastern Provincial Station of Radio
Cameroon. Having been reactived at least twice during its lifetime, the station was last heard in themid-1990's.
Bafoussam: as the Western Provincial Station, this was the last provincial radio station to beestablished in Cameroon on shortwave, coming on air in early 1980. It operated on 4000 and 5955
kHz with 20 kW. It was last heard in the mid-1990's.

1There has been one opposition radio station targeting Cameroon in recent years. Radio Free
Southern Cameroons had broadcast in support of the Coalition of Southern Cameroons
Liberation Movements. Having started in October 2005, RFSC broadcasts were brokered by TDP
via a 500 kW transmitter in Russia. It was last heard on 15695 kHz during the A-06 period.
CRTV radio news on demand
Although there is no live streaming from CRTV, the daily newcasts in English at 0630, 1500
and 1900 local time are available on demand from the CRTV website at www.crtv.cmBelow: Both sides of a QSL card from Radio Cameroon, Buea (3970 kHz) received by Dave Kennyin 1979. The same card was also used by the National Station in Yaounde.

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