NatCA Engages CSO and MNO on Quality Service Improvement and Pricing Reform
In order to improve the quality of service Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), Internet Service Providers (ISPs) provide for consumers in Sierra Leone, the telecommunications regulator – National Communications authority (NatCA) engaged telecommunications players listed above. Also present at the auspicious event held at Country Lodge, Hill Station in Freetown on Thursday 23rd January, 2025, were representatives from Zoodlabs Orange SL, Africell, Qcell and representatives from civil society organizations.
The engagement took the form of statements made by representatives of the various telecom actors including a statement from the Deputy Director General (DDG) of NatCA Mamma Sewoh Koroma.
Speaking on behalf of her boss who was unavoidably absent, she informer her audience that this is not the first of such engagements they have been having with players in the telecom industry. She noted that the objective of the quality service validation exercise is to create a more amiable atmosphere within the telecommunications industry to make it a win-win situation for all players, noting that they (NatCA) are tasked with the mandate of balancing satisfaction between three main sectors – consumers, operators and the government.
She went further to state that the process would lead to a new regulation, revoking the earlier regulation, adding that once agreed and passed into law, it would pave the way for a more transparent and accountable telecommunications system in Sierra Leone which would aspire to not leave anyone behind and which would be in accordance with President Julius Maada Bio’s Big Five Game changers.
Representatives from the various mobile network operators all pledged their commitment to working assiduously to making the validation exercise a success, adding that they too would be pleased to see a modified, transparent and accountable system which would be a win-win situation for all.
The high point of the event was the discussion phase of the validation included a power-point presentation done by NatCA Director of Engineering Sahr Sewa which was actively debated and filled with questions and answers.
A couple of days earlier, the Director General of the NatCA, Amara Brewah announced a major reform that will transform pricing structure for telecommunication companies in the country.
DG Brewah made the announcement during Tuesday’s weekly government press briefing hosted by the Ministry of Information and Civic Education. He said a Cost Study has been completed, which will have a potential impact on tariff prices. “With the help of the Ministry, we have just completed a Cost Study. A Cost Study takes in to account everything the mobile companies spend in providing the services they are providing now. This will help us in determining how much they should charge the consumer, like a pricing formula,” DG Brewah said.
He said the pricing system will be adopted and it will be reviewed periodically. DG Brewah further said NatCA will not give in on its commitment to quality service for consumers. He said the authority’s role is delicate, because it has to consider three different players; consumers, investors and government.
“As we are carrying out our mandate we have three groups of people to please; the first person is the consumer. We need to make sure the consumers are happy with the services the operator is providing,”
Speaking on quality of service, he said: “Quality of Service is a big issue. I know you are all concerned about this, but NatCA is on top of this situation, and we are working on it very hard,” he said.
Part of their job as a regulator is that they have to engage with all the service providers on improving quality, and that when the engagement fails, then they can take action.
It could be recalled that last week the Authority, fined Orange Sierra Leone, $1 million for poor network service.
“We got to a point where we said, these people need to take the people of Sierra Leone seriously, so we had to fine them,” he informed journalists.
He said despite the fine, NatCA has always been open to have a constructive conversation with operators on the challenges they face and how government can help them with that.
DG Brewah who was just appointed last year has done a lot in his new role. He thanked the Ministry of Communication for its support in doing their work.
“When the Ministry is putting together the policy framework, our own job as regulator is to make sure the price is affordable no matter where you are,” he said.
DG Brewah also gave a major update on 5G technology. which will focus on data: “5G technology is at the trial phase, the operators are working hard to get that in place. We have Star Link, they are now in the country and the good thing is they don’t have a heavy infrastructure, they just install and you connect,” he said.
