The Liberia Telecoms Authority (LTA) and Ghana’s National Communication Authority (NCA) have started discussions that would lead to an agreement on free roaming between the two countries.
Details
Once an agreement has been reached, the two bodies will implement a process that will charge local rates for mobile phone users in both countries while subscribers are visiting.
If agreed between the two countries, the roaming arrangement would require commercial solutions from carriers, allowing the cost-effective implementation of agreements in line with the ECOWAS regulation.
The Big Picture
In 2017, ECOWAS adopted a regulation to control the international wholesale and retail roaming markets, urging nations to work out lower termination rates to reduce charges and stimulate travel, trade, and tourism in the region.
Ideally, all 15 ECOWAS nations would reduce roaming charges to the same price as their domestic country.
Zoom Out
The Liberia Telecommunications Authority issued an order in 2020 urging the country’s mobile network operators to implement the ECOWAS regulation.
However, activation has been very slow. Service Providers cite, among several issues, a lack of momentum in commencing bilateral engagements. They said they would also like the LTA to remove the surcharge on ECOWAS international incoming traffic and curb roaming fraud, prevalent in some West African countries.
What They’re Saying
Acting International Gateway Systems Commissioner Angela Cassell Bush, who is also presiding over the leadership of the LTA, in the absence of her colleague, Abdullah Kamara, recognizes the importance of this very first step.
“This is great news, the discussions underway from Accra, Ghana, with members of the Acting Board of the Liberia Telecommunications Authority,” says Bush.
“We look forward to more engagements; and more discussions with other member countries of ECOWAS in view of partnering with Liberia for this roaming at zero cost. So we are very excited and we look forward to more engagement.”
Source: Liberian Observer
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