By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara

For the past two weeks, Sierra Leoneans have endured widespread frustration due to unreliable mobile networks, with leading operator’s orange and Africell failing to deliver consistent services, severely impacting daily life across the nation.

These disruptions have left citizens unable to make calls, access the internet, or use mobile money, disrupting businesses, education, healthcare, and family connections in a country where mobile phones are vital lifelines.

The situation represents a significant socio-economic challenge, jeopardizing livelihoods as students miss online exams, traders halt transactions, and families lose touch with loved ones near and far.

The lack of accountability from Orange and Africell, which dominate the telecommunications market, has fueled public discontent, as subscribers receive little to no explanation for the outages or timelines for restoration, despite paying for services they cannot fully access.

This apparent monopoly raises serious concerns about fairness and transparency, leaving consumers with few alternatives and prompting calls for stronger oversight.

The National Telecommunications Authority (NaTCA), tasked with regulating the sector, must move beyond mere licensing to actively safeguard consumer rights, demanding clear answers on whether these issues stem from technical failures, policy shortcomings, or other undisclosed causes, and ensuring subscribers are not billed for unusable services.

In a nation where connectivity drives progress enabling small businesses to use WhatsApp, hospitals to coordinate care, and farmers to check market prices reliable networks are no longer a luxury but a necessity.

When these services falter, development grinds to a halt, underscoring the urgent need for network reliability as a fundamental entitlement rather than a privilege.

It is imperative for mobile operators to prioritize customer respect by guaranteeing stable service, while NaTCA must rise to the challenge, enforcing accountability to break the cycle of substandard performance and unaddressed grievances. For too long, Sierra Leoneans have paid premium prices for inadequate service, and this must end otherwise, the vision of a connected, thriving Sierra Leone risks remaining an unfulfilled dream.

Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 24th September, 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)