Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The National Communications Authority (NatCA) has signed a landmark agreement with the Republic of Guinea to introduce free mobile roaming between the two countries, a move expected to significantly reduce communication costs for cross-border users.
The protocol was concluded during the 15th Session of the African Council of Regulators (CAR-15), held alongside the Transform Africa 2025 Summit and supported by the Smart Africa Alliance.
The roaming deal aligns with a broader regional push to simplify communication within West Africa. In recent months, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Liberia have all adopted similar arrangements, demonstrating a growing commitment to lowering roaming charges and promoting economic integration across the sub-region.
NatCA Director-General, Amara Brewah, signed the agreement on behalf of Sierra Leone.
Once fully implemented, mobile users in Sierra Leone and Guinea will be able to make calls, send SMS, and use data services without international roaming surchargesa major benefit for traders, students, travellers, and families who move frequently between the two countries.
“This agreement is a practical step toward reducing the cost of communication, deepening cross-border trade, and bringing Smart Africa’s vision of a Single Digital Market closer to reality,” Brewah said.
NatCA and Guinea’s telecommunications regulator will work with licensed mobile network operators to finalize technical requirements, including tariff arrangements, fair-use policies, and quality-of-service standards along the border.
Implementation will roll out in phases, following full technical integration by operators in both countries. NatCA will announce the effective activation date and provide detailed consumer guidelines in due course.
This marks the second major telecommunications partnership between Sierra Leone and Guinea in less than a year. In November 2024, both countries signed an agreement to interconnect their national internet backbone networks, enhancing digital infrastructure and improving secure data exchange across their shared border.
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