By Alhaji Sowa

The National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM) , the country’s telecommunications regulator, recently played host, from the 10^th to 12^th February 2021,  to the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), another regulator of similar nature in that country.

When the LTA landed at Jendema on the Liberia border, they were received by a team of NATCOM officials. Among the visiting team were the Acting Chairman/Commissioner, Maria Harrison, Commissioners Isreal Akinsanya, Jaiah Masssaquoi, James Lynch, Natalie Kollie, Numene T.H.Bartekwa among others.

The rationale behind the visit was geared towards enhancing and deepening collaboration between the two regulators, which according to both sides, is very critical in the telecommunications eco-system.

Among the issues that the team from the Liberia Telecommunications Authority raised for discussions were collaboration for the 18^th Annual General Meeting of the West Africa Telecommunications Regulator Assembly (WATRA), free roaming, cross border coordination and rural connectivity (Universal Access).

Ambassador Joe Blell, the Chairman/Commissioner of NATCOM, warmly welcomed the LTA delegation to Sierra Leone and told them to be at ease. whilst they are in the country. He highlighted that there has been  a long sisterly tie between the two countries furthering that NATCOM is always willing to collaborate with its partner with the main objective of improving the quality of telecommunications services in both countries.

He noted that  there is the need for both regulators to be sharing ideas and experiences from time to time on how to enhance telecommunications in both countries that will better improve the lives of people as well as to mobilize meaningful revenue for the Governments of both countries.

On his part, the  Director General of NATCOM, Daniel Kaitibi, expressed delight for receiving the delegation from Liberia adding that it is indeed very imperative to speak on cross-pollination of ideas and share experiences.

The result-oriented DG said they will frankly discuss the issues that the LTA delegation raised as well as others further maintaining that he is looking forward to join forces together with a view of  enhancing improved telecommunications, Information, Communications and Technology for development.

Director Kaitibi intimated that the meeting between the two regulators is really in tune with President Julius Maada Bio’s vision of fast tracking the digital transformation in Sierra Leone.

Speaking on behalf of the LTA delegation, Commissioner Isreal Akinsanya expressed appreciation for the cordial welcome his delegation received from NATCOM.

He noted that the discussions between the delegation from LTA and NATCOM would further help them to assess and manage future spectrum demand .

Areas like Tomorrow’s Communications, relating to Spectrum solutions and expertise in Spectrum Management, Radio Monitoring, Network Planning, Implementation and Optimization were also thoroughly discussed in a well-structured dialogue .

Discussions were also held by the LTA delegation with the Mano River Union Secretariat and the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Indeed, it is evidently clear that Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) now form the backbone in the digital economy of today. In that regard, it is very significant for regulators to be frankly collaborating in order to get the regulatory environment right.