By Joseph Momoh, D.S. Reporter
FREETOWN — The National Communications Authority (NatCA) has entered into a groundbreaking agreement with Guinea to provide free mobile roaming services between the two nations, a move anticipated to substantially lower communication costs for users traveling across their shared border.
The agreement was finalized during the 15th Session of the African Council of Regulators (CAR-15), which was held in conjunction with the Transform Africa 2025 Summit, supported by the Smart Africa Alliance.
This new roaming arrangement is part of a broader effort to enhance communication accessibility across West Africa. Recent months have seen similar initiatives adopted by countries including Ghana, Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Liberia, signaling a regional commitment to reducing roaming charges and fostering economic integration.
Amara Brewah, Director-General of NatCA, signed the agreement on behalf of Sierra Leone. With its full implementation, mobile users in both countries will enjoy the ability to make calls, send text messages, and utilize data services without incurring international roaming fees—a significant advantage for traders, students, travelers, and families frequently traversing the border.
“This agreement represents a meaningful step toward lowering communication costs, enhancing cross-border trade, and advancing Smart Africa’s vision of a Single Digital Market,” Brewah stated.
NatCA, alongside Guinea’s telecommunications regulator, will collaborate with licensed mobile network operators to establish the necessary technical requirements, including tariff frameworks, fair-use policies, and quality-of-service standards along the border. The rollout will occur in phases, with full technical integration anticipated by operators in both countries. NatCA will announce the official activation date along with comprehensive consumer guidelines in the near future.
This marks the second significant telecommunications partnership between Sierra Leone and Guinea within the past year. In November 2024, the two nations signed an agreement to interconnect their national internet backbone networks, enhancing digital infrastructure and facilitating secure data exchange across their border.
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