By: christian.conteh@awokonewspaper.sl
Bo, SIERRA LEONE – The National Telecommunications Commission Authority (NatCA) has responded to mounting public concerns regarding the poor quality of service (QoS) provided by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Sierra Leone.
During an engagement with the press in Bo, NatCA’s Director of Corporate and Industry Affairs, Abdul Ben-Foday, acknowledged the ongoing complaints about the degraded quality of experience (QoE) for mobile users, which has affected both voice and data services across the country.
Ben-Foday assured the public that NatCA is taking these concerns seriously and has already implemented a comprehensive monitoring framework to address the issues.
“We have duly noted the public’s frustrations about the quality of service from MNOs, and we are committed to improving the situation. Our new monitoring system will help track and ensure that service providers meet their obligations, and improvements should be evident soon,” he said.
NatCA’s approach to resolving these service challenges is rooted in its mission to foster fair competition among service providers, protect consumer rights, and enhance connectivity across Sierra Leone. Ben-Foday emphasized that improving network quality is crucial, not only for everyday users but also for businesses and government services that rely heavily on mobile communications for their operations.
While addressing service quality issues, Ben-Foday also presented key data on mobile network coverage highlighting the progress made by the telecommunications sector. The figures reflect extensive mobile coverage across the country, with significant progress in 4G availability, which now reaches over 75% of the population, enabling faster and more reliable internet access.
He reassured the public that improvements in service quality would be visible soon as NatCA works with MNOs to enhance network infrastructure and customer experience.
“These numbers are encouraging, but we recognize that more needs to be done, especially in areas where customers have expressed dissatisfaction with network reliability. Our monitoring framework is designed to hold operators accountable and ensure that they deliver the quality of service that consumers expect and deserve,” Ben-Foday added. CC/2/10/2024
