While launching the service at Mattia Conference Centre, Deputy Minister of Information and Communication Mamadi Gobeh-Kamara the launch of the Free Regional Roaming is a manifestation of government’s commitment to ensuring that communication services are improve an a way that will contribute to the socio-economic development as well as the wellbeing of citizens.
The Deputy Minister explained that Sierra Leone as a member of ECOWAS signed in 2017 the ECOWAS regulation on Free Roaming in West Africa which was approved by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers.
According to her, the initiative is to establish an appropriate harmonized legal and tariff framework to eliminate roaming charges in the sub-region and create ICT markets within and amongst member states.
“The effective implementation of the regional roaming service will enhance regional integration efforts, movement of persons and goods which is a cardinal objective of the ECOWAS treaty on free movement of goods and services for all citizens irrespective of the economic status,” she said.
She congratulated NATCOM and team for their hard work in putting the regional roaming service stating that with the new development, citizens will be able to roam like home and roam local at a very competitive rate within seven countries of the ECOWAS region.
Director General of NATCOM, Maxwell Massaquoi on 26th April this year, signed a memorandum of understanding on behalf of government with other Mano River Union member countries for the actualization of the regional free roaming service initiative based on the principle of collective responsibility.
According to him, the free regional roaming service will continue to promote regional integration, bring down high cost of mobile roaming, eliminate charges for receiving voice calls, while roaming in member countries.
