By Bampia James Bundu
The National Telecommunication Company (NATCOM), in partnership with Africell and Airtel, has signed an agreement to maintain and improve mobile phone network services in the country to International Telecommunication Union (ITU) standards.
Addressing a meeting where the agreement was made, NATCOM chairman Momoh Konte emphasized the importance and the need for quality mobile network services all over the country, especially to cater for the rural areas. He said expansion of the 3G data services would accelerate the socio-economic development of the country.
The NATCOM Chairman expressed delight over the commitment and collaborative response from the two leading telcos in the country to build and deliver ITU standard mobile voice and data network services to the people of Sierra Leone.
Konte re-emphasized his personal commitments towards a new era of telecommunication in Sierra Leone.
It could be recalled that when the new NATCOM chairman was appointed he promised in parliament to provide rural communication and to ensure that mobile phone companies meet international standards. He however said he would be working in close partnership with the concerned operators and also ensure they succeed in making Sierra Leone`s communication problems a thing of the past.
In response to the call of the NATCOM Chairman, the management of Africel and Airtel reiterated their companies` commitments to delivering ITU standard quality service and to continue the expansion and modernization of their mobile voice and data network all over the country.
Both operators shared details of their projects already under implementation to achieve these objectives.
NATCOM and the operators agreed to closely monitor key network quality indicators in line with ITU standards over the next 45 days and any necessary improvement will be made to comply with the said standard.
NATCOM as a regulator will ensure that quality of service parameters are met with strict regular monitoring and will share the relevant performance level of operators with the public as is practiced in many other countries.
© Politico 24/02/15
