Telecommunications
Structure and Policy
Sierratel
is the state-owned national telecommunications operator in Sierra
Leone. As there is no independent regulatory authority, the telecommunications sector is
regulated by the Ministry of Transport, Communication and the Environment.
In 1996, there were plans to
elaborate a telecommunications policy which would lead to the liberalisation of the
sector. The policy was expected to include the following elements:
- seeking a strategic partner as a 49%
shareholder in Sierratel;
- embarking in a joint venture
exercise to introduce cellular and paging services. Millicom of Luxembourg was considered
as potential partner for cellular network;
- introducing competition in some
market segments; and
- establishing an independent
regulator.
However, the military take-over in
May 1997 disrupted the elaboration of the telecommunications policy and the implementation
of planned development projects.
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ICT
Networking Development
Most of the networking
initiatives which were underway in Sierra Leone came to a halt after the military
take-over in May 1997.
The Institute
of Library, Archives and Information Studies at the University of Sierra
Leone has continued to function intermittently.
Sierranet,
an IDRC-funded project established in 1994 to provide e-mail connectivity to the academic
and research sector, had two e-mail systems in operation by 1995: one for users at the
University of Sierra Leone and the other for the medical community, students, and staff at
the College of Medecine and Allied Health Sciences. Sierranet's potential for growth
stopped with emergence of civil strife in May 1997. Source: IDRC
Reports.
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ICT Partners and
Projects
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