NatCA and ACTI Begin 3-Day Meeting on ECOWAS Roaming Rules
The National Communication Authority (NatCA) has kicked off a crucial three-day technical meeting focused on implementing roaming regulations for public mobile networks within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The meeting, which began on Tuesday, aims to harmonize roaming charges across member states.
Mohamed Jalloh, in his welcome address, emphasized that the ECOWAS roaming initiative was first adopted in 2017. Though Sierra Leone was initially approached by Côte d’Ivoire to sign the agreement, The Gambia became the first to implement the regulations. ECOWAS regularly tests member states for compliance, with Orange Sierra Leone showing progress. Côte d’Ivoire has been a frontrunner in advancing the ECOWAS roaming protocols.
Amara Brewah, NatCA’s Director General, highlighted the significance of this initiative in boosting trade, enhancing regional ties, and promoting economic activity. He clarified that while roaming won’t be entirely free, travelers within ECOWAS countries will no longer incur extra charges for calls made or received abroad. Calls made from Côte d’Ivoire to Sierra Leone, for example, will be billed at domestic rates.
Lansine Fofanah, ECOWAS Regional Roaming Coordinator, noted that the meeting aims to facilitate seamless roaming across the region, ensuring users can maintain their numbers and use mobile services without additional costs. The coordination includes efforts with Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, with MOUs signed with countries like Burkina Faso and Benin.
Jayamani Kaethai, Manager of Qcell Sierra Leone, stressed the value of roaming services to operators while urging solutions to financial and technical hurdles. He called for greater cooperation to ensure subscribers receive high-quality service.
Representatives from Orange and Africell shared their experiences and challenges in implementing ECOWAS roaming, expressing optimism about learning from Côte d’Ivoire’s success and advancing the initiative in Sierra Leone. The meeting is a pivotal step towards improving mobile communication and deepening regional integration across West Africa.
