NATCOM interacts with partners

Sierra Leone’s telecommunications regulator, the National Telecommunications Commission (NATCOM), on Friday March, 16^th, held its first interactive session with telecommunications operators and consumers in the country at the Shangri La, Lumley Beach in Freetown.

Siray Alpha Timbo, NATCOM Chairman (in photo) stated that the Commission is mandated to ensure that telecommunication companies comply with the rules and regulations of the Commission as well as collaborate with stakeholders to chat the way forward.

“It should be noted here that despite the leniency of the Commission to clamp down on defaulting operators, it does not provide any room for rogue operators who are aggrieved by the action of the Commission”, Timbo noted.

Lamenting on the SIM card registration, Mr. Timbo called on operators to comply with the requirement of SIM registrations and called on the need for what he described as “Work hard to render quality services to consumers”, pointing out that Sierra Leone’s development relies on a sound and robust communication system.”

According to Mr. Timbo, the Commission has received over two thousand complaints related to services provided by mobile operators as follows: 60% for Airtel, 30% for Comium and 10% for Africell while the Commission recorded 90% for SIM card registration and 83% for tele-density.

Mohamed Bangura, NATCOM’s Director General, who chaired the session, noted that interaction with stakeholders is very important for the Commission as it gives them the opportunity to underline salient issues for the growth of the industry.

He further stated that sessions of this nature are very essential as they drastically reduce incidents of litigation with all stakeholders.

According to the DG, the session would look at the quality of service and SIM card registration, change of billing from units to Leones, the right of consumers and the suspension and cancellation of licenses for non-compliance. He also admonished operators to promptly pay their regulatory fees to enhance the smooth running of the Commission.

Honourable Kondeh Yapo Conteh, Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Information disclosed that some parts of Parliament building lack network coverage and appealed to operators to put modalities in place in providing quality services to consumers, especially those in parliament inclusding Parliamentarians.

The MP also thanked NATCOM, operators and consumers for their continuous support and noting: “The developments taking place in the communication sector should be the concern over quality of service in some areas as the need to communicate increases everyday.”

Hon. Kondeh Yapo Conteh further implored operators not to relent on SIM card registration for obvious reasons adding that “the Committee on Information will not like to take any action that would negatively impact on stakeholders.”

By A. R. Bedor

Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!