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    Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire Ink Roaming Deal, Go Live with Sierra Leone

    1 month ago

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    By : Sam Payedoo 

    In a significant move towards regional integration and digital cooperation, Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will enable free roaming services between the two countries. The service is expected to go live in the coming weeks, allowing citizens to communicate seamlessly across borders without incurring additional charges.

    The signing ceremony took place on Wednesday and was led by Hon. Clarence Massaquoi, Chairman of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), and Michel Kouakou, Director of Telecommunications and Regulation, who represented Côte d’Ivoire.

    Speaking at the event, Hon. Massaquoi described the agreement as a major step forward in easing the financial burden of communication costs for citizens of both countries.

    “The signing of this document has removed a significant financial burden from the shoulders of our citizens and represents a real and tangible step forward in making seamless communication across our borders a reality,” he said.

    Hon. Massaquoi also highlighted that this development is part of a broader regional effort by Liberia to implement the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative. He disclosed that, in addition to the current agreement with Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia has recently activated free roaming with Sierra Leone and signed a similar agreement earlier this year with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) of The Gambia. The free roaming service with The Gambia is expected to launch in October 2025.

    Looking ahead, the LTA has also begun bilateral discussions with the National Communications Authority (NCA) of Ghana. Hon. Massaquoi expressed confidence that a formal MOU would soon be signed, paving the way for free roaming services between Liberia and Ghana before the end of the year.

    “Our next targets will include Togo, Benin, Senegal, and Guinea. Our aim is to bring these countries on board and fully implement ECOWAS free roaming services with them by the end of next year,” he noted.

    He praised the determination and spirit of cooperation between the governments and regulatory bodies involved, emphasizing that this collective effort is bringing the dream of seamless regional communication closer to reality.

    “We have made important strides this week — not only with the official launch of free roaming services with Sierra Leone but also by signing this bilateral agreement with Côte d’Ivoire. These are monumental steps for regional unity,” he added.

    Hon. Massaquoi also took the opportunity to extend his appreciation to Liberia’s two major GSM operators—Lonestar Cell MTN and Orange Liberia—for their dedication and technical support in helping make the free roaming regulations functional.

    “It gives me great joy that the actions we are taking today will empower our people—whether in Monrovia, Voinjama, Freetown, Kenema, Abidjan, or Bouaké—to connect, communicate, and conduct business without the hassle of switching SIM cards or paying excessive rates for calls and data,” he said.

    The MOU signifies a collaborative approach to digital development in West Africa and aligns with the ECOWAS vision of a fully integrated communication space. The ability to use one’s phone across member states without incurring roaming charges will benefit not only individual travelers but also businesses, cross-border traders, and regional institutions.

    In a related development, Liberia and Sierra Leone officially launched a 30-day free roaming pilot today. The pilot aims to test service quality, user experience, and technical readiness before transitioning into a full rollout.

    The signing of this agreement with Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia’s growing list of bilateral telecom partnerships underscores a major shift in the region’s approach to digital transformation. With momentum building, West Africa is fast approaching a future where affordable and uninterrupted cross-border communication becomes the norm.

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