By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)
In a bid to improve the telecommunications industry in the country, the National Communications Authority (NaTCA) in collaboration with the International Telecommunications Union has hosted a two day workshop in Sierra Leone on telecommunications quality of service.
The hallmark event took place on Tuesday July 1st, 2025 at the Lagoonda Conference center in Aberdeen, Freetown.
In his welcome address, the Director General, National Communications Authority (NatCA) ITU-T Study Group 12 Africa Regional Workshop on Quality of Service (QoS) Freetown, Sierra Leone, Amara Brewah said the training is to showcase and exchange knowledge on telecommunications in Africa.
Addressing participants, the Honorable Minister of Communications, Technology and Innovation- Minister, Salima M. Bah, in a special way welcomed the distinguished delegates from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and other esteemed representatives from across the region and beyond, valued colleagues and respected partners in the telecommunications landscape across Sierra Leone.
“It is with profound pride and heartfelt warmth that I welcome you to Freetown, the vibrant capital of Sierra Leone, for this landmark ITU-T Study Group 12 Africa Regional Workshop on Quality of Service,” he greeted everyone with a broad smile.
The minister said hosting what she described as the ‘esteemed gathering’ said is a tremendous honour for the National Communications Authority (NatCA), and indeed, for the nation. She said it marks a significant milestone that underscores Sierra Leone’s steadfast commitment to global and regional telecommunications progress. Minister Bah said the country’s journey has been one of collaboration, ambition, and innovation.
She said Sierra Leone has emerged as a convening ground for critical digital policy discourse. The minister recalled that in May 2023, the country hosted an ITU-supported technical workshop that brought together senior government officials, mobile network operators, internet service providers, and development partners including the World Bank and UNICEF-to address national digital priorities and strategic challenges.
She disclosed that from March 14th to 16th, Sierra Leone had welcomed delegates from Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Congo, and Smart Africa’s broader member states to Freetown for the Smart Africa Digitalization Acceleration Workshop. That peer-learning engagement, held under the Smart Africa Digital Acceleration Program (SADAP), focused on unlocking the digital economy through public sector innovation—using our national experience as a live case study.
“Such forums are testament to our belief that inclusive and forward-looking dialogue lays the groundwork for robust digital ecosystems. At the heart of this belief is NatCA’s ongoing revision of the 2020 Telecommunications Quality of Service Regulations—a progressive undertaking designed to align regulation with emerging technologies, evolving user expectations, and international best practices. This regulatory transformation reinforces transparency, resilience, and investor confidence, while delivering tangible benefits to consumers,” Minister explained.
Madam Bah further said that evidence-based policymaking through a national QoS monitoring initiative led by an independent vendor contracted by NatCA are key to national growth. This ensures that Mobile Network Operators and ISPs performances are not only measured objectively but also communicated transparently—enhancing user trust, informing investments, and supporting public accountability. With the issuance of four 5G trial licenses, Sierra Leone is signaling its readiness to adopt next-generation connectivity at scale.
Despite the challenges, NatCA remains a committed contributor to the global standardization agenda. “Our engineers continue to play an active role in ITU-T SG12, while also participating in the ITU-T SG2 Africa Management Team. Recent contributions on NIN-SIM integration, WANGIRI and Click farm fraud mitigation, and short code harmonization are shaping collaborative efforts to enhance cross-border service integrity and security.”
“As the immediate past Chairman of the West African Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), I take particular pride in our collective strides toward regional integration. The ECOWAS Regional Roaming initiative—now entering its implementation phase—embodies our shared aspiration for a harmonized, consumer-focused digital future across West Africa. It incorporates critical Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) elements designed to enhance,” She revealed.