With Sierra Leone’s fixed broadband speed ranking 144th in the world and 32nd in Africa, the country has long struggled with broadband connectivity.
The Ministry of Communication, Technology, and Innovation organised the National Broadband Strategy Validation workshop on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, at the New Freetown City Council Building in Freetown, as a proactive measure, after realising how important it was to address this issue.
The workshop brought together a range of stakeholders from different sectors to collaborate on policy recommendations aimed at improving broadband connectivity in the country.
Attendees included mobile network operators, service providers, Metro Cable, the National Cybersecurity Coordination Centre, the National Telecommunications Commission, the Universal Access Development Fund, the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project, Zoodlabs SL, and LeoneCom.
In his keynote address, Deputy Minister, Ibrahim Sannoh, emphasised the vital role that the National Broadband Strategy (2023–2028) will play in supporting Sierra Leone’s shift to a knowledge-based economy. The strategy, which is structured around seven thematic areas—Infrastructure, Services, Capacity building, Policy, Privacy and security, Devices, and Finance—helps to facilitate this transformation.
The first chapter of the strategy was summarised by Nyakeh Yormah, the acting Director of Communications at the Ministry of Communication Technology and Innovation (MoCTI). Yormah emphasised how the strategy could lead to opportunities for clever solutions that could completely transform the everyday lives of Sierra Leoneans. This inclusive approach aims to foster innovation and the generation of business ideas, regardless of location.
“While West Africa shows commendable fixed broadband speeds, addressing affordability is crucial for widespread adoption and socioeconomic development in the country,” Senior Manager at NaTCA, Shaka Sasha Essa, summarised chapters two and three of the broadband strategy. “Sierra Leone, which ranks 32nd out of 34 African countries and 144th globally for fixed broadband speed, faces challenges with affordability of broadband.”
The workshop’s potential to address issues with affordability, user uptake, and infrastructure makes it significant. Collaboration among stakeholders is considered crucial, and a framework for monitoring is in place to keep track of developments and guarantee accountability.
One of the key takeaways from the workshop is the realisation that broadband is an essential enabler for E-services, digital transformation, and participation in the knowledge economy. Sierra Leone recognises the need to remove entry barriers and seeks to create an environment where technology is affordable and accessible for all citizens.
The workshop is an important first step towards accelerating digital transformation and opening the door for a more technologically sophisticated and connected society, as Sierra Leone advances with the implementation of its National Broadband Strategy. The cooperative endeavours of stakeholders from diverse sectors indicate a mutual dedication to enhancing broadband connectivity within the nation and unleashing the possibilities for innovation and economic expansion.
