NATCOM’s Director General Daniel Kaitibi with his excellent management skills, talent and drive has brought to bear five (5) regulations that will continue to form the pivot for effective service delivery in the telecommunications sector, as they will be critical in creating both a level playing field and an enabling environment in achieving inclusive digital transformation for sustainable development.
The telecommunications regulations rolled out pursuant to section 82 of the telecommunications Act 2006 as amended include the following:
Telecommunications Licensing Regulations 2020
Telecommunications Quality of Service Regulations 2020
Telecommunications Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulations 2020
Telecommunications Subscriber Identification and Registration Management Regulations 2020 and
Telecommunications Electronic Communications Equipment Type Approval Regulations 2020
Speaking to DG Kaitibi, he said Regulators the world over are seeking to cope with the challenges of convergence and the new online world with old world tools. To deal with these challenges, he continued to say, we have to have cutting-edge, best-practice regulations, which are essential to the growth of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services, applications and devices.
DG Kaitibi continued to say that in view of the fact that he is not on a Quid Pro Quo trajectory, these regulations were developed to enable him seamlessly regulate the telecommunications ecosystem in line with cluster 3.5 of the Mid Term National Development Plan for Sierra Leone on ICT.
The Licensing Regulation outlines the processes of granting business licenses and authorizations for telecommunications, broadband and ancillary services in Sierra Leone with prescribed fees for every licensing regime, thereby making the operations of the Commission predictable. It further provides a framework for the use and operation of networks, systems, equipment or apparatus and the provision of telecommunications and broadband services.
The Quality of Services Regulation articulates the condition for the improvement of Quality of Experience (QoE) of consumers relating to internationally accepted thresholds of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) through measurement and comparison of the KPIs with established benchmarks and norms. Furthermore, it provides the platform to protect the interests of consumers, improves the operations and performance of interconnected networks and makes information readily and publicly available to help consumers to make the choice of services through comparative analysis.
The Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulation establishes the framework for the assignment of radio frequency spectrum to applicants of different licensing regimes in the telecommunications ecosystem in tandem with the decisions of the National Spectrum Committee. Additionally, it enumerates fees for different types of radio frequency spectrum, and at the same time ensures that the processes of planning, management and assignment are competitive, accountable and transparent.
The Subscriber Identification and Registration Management Regulation provides a clear framework of identifying subscribers of electronic communications services and a minimum framework for verifying the identification details provided by subscribers at the time of registration. It also establishes minimum standards for maintaining consumer registration information for legal and national security purposes, as well as outlines the creation of a central database of electronic communication subscribers.
The Electronic Communication Equipment Type Approval Regulation defines processes of type approval of electronic communications equipment, certifies that communications equipment generate permissible electromagnetic disturbance at internationally accepted levels and confirms that communications equipments are not harmful to any public telecommunications network and public health. It outlines safeguards and interoperability and interconnect of communications equipment with communications networks, promotes and assures the quality of communications equipment used by consumers and ensures effective use of radio frequency spectrum.
These five (5) regulations have prescribed enforcement powers, dispute resolution mechanisms and arbitration processes. In addition, they will continue to enhance efficiency and effectiveness; certainty, reliability and predictability.
