MTN Cameroon has stopped out-of-bundle internet billing in the country and has enforced a new system that offers the user a choice before airtime accounts are utilised.

Representatives of the telco announced the development from the economic capital Douala on 12 February 2019.

According to the new billing system, deployed since the start of 2019, when browsing, the customer's main airtime account is not automatically debited as soon his/her internet bundle is exhausted.

Subscribers will now have the choice to renew their bundle, choose another bundle or browse off-bundle.

Hendrik Kasteel, chief executive officer of MTN Cameroon, said the initiative can only really improve customer experience if the network is efficient and affordable.

"This will be the case with the MTN network, recognised as the fastest network in Cameroon. The international agency Ookla, world leader in measuring mobile network performance, has just certified that MTN has the fastest network in Cameroon."

MTN currently holds 60%market share of the telecoms industry in the restive regions, but continues to be impacted by ongoing conflict in the North West and South West regions.

The latest amendment to its offering is generally been regarded by the market as a means to revive the company's performance.

Aghamba Jacobel, marketing expert and lecturer at Siantou University Institute Yaounde, said that although the move positions the telecoms company a step ahead of its competition, the billing system alone cannot help MTN Cameroon maintain its leadership.

"It's just one of the ways to remain at the top and they have to consolidate others."

Between 2016 and 2018, the operator invested over 3 billion francs CFA to transform its network - an investment almost half the sum invested in 15years (2000 - 2015).

The company has also announced the imminent sale of affordable high-performance smartphones and modems.