In a significant step towards regional integration, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strip off roaming charges between these countries. The MoU allows citizens to use mobile services at local rates while travelling to encourage economic collaboration and enhance connectivity.
The MoU is in line with the broader ECOWAS intent to lower high roaming costs across West Africa. Starting from 2 May 2025, Liberian citizens travelling to Sierra Leone will be able to receive calls on their phones without charges- on the local service for use, similar to what happens inside the country. The same contract will apply to The Gambia on July 1, 2025. Abdullah Kamara, Acting Chairperson of Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), hails it as a game-changer for regional connectivity and plans to include further similar arrangements to Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, and Benin by the end of the year.
iPRIS is coordinated and implemented by SPIDER in strategic and technical partnership with the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) and the Luxembourg Regulatory Institute (ILR).
iPRIS is funded by the European Union, Sweden, and Luxembourg as part of the Team Europe Initiative “D4D for Digital Economy and Society in Sub-Saharan Africa” (Code: 001).
