Liberia, The Gambia and Sierra Leone ink roaming dealLiberia, The Gambia and Sierra Leone ink roaming deal

Three members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to reduce telecommunications costs by improving roaming services.

ECOWAS is a regional political and economic union of 15 West African countries which aims to achieve "collective self-sufficiency" for its member states by creating a single large trade bloc and a full economic and trading union.

Signed by Liberia, The Gambia and Sierra Leone, the MoU covers voice, SMS and data services and seeks to promote economic growth to ease communication for citizens traveling within the three countries.

The agreement is set to begin its phased implementation on May 2, 2025, allowing travelers from Liberia to Sierra Leone to receive calls free of charge, make calls, send texts and use mobile data at local rates without needing a new SIM card.

Citizens of Liberia traveling to The Gambia will enjoy similar benefits without incurring additional international roaming charges from July 1, 2025.

"This signing marks a significant step in our collective effort to enhance regional connectivity. With these MOUs, we are making decisive progress towards implementing the ECOWAS Regulation on roaming within the region, an initiative aimed at eliminating high roaming charges," said Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) Chairman Abdullah Kamara.

Related:Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire implement ECOWAS free roaming initiative

The agreement signed by representatives from the three countries will allow citizens to use mobile services in each other’s countries without incurring international roaming charges. (Source: Liberia Telecommunications Authority)

The initiative, driven by the LTA in collaboration with the National Communications Authority of Sierra Leone and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority of The Gambia, seeks to promote economic growth and facilitate communication for citizens traveling within the three countries.

"These ECOWAS goals, which our governments have endorsed, include the promotion of regional integration and seamless cross-border public communication facilities across member states. This is a step toward ensuring that telecommunications serve as a bridge rather than a barrier between our people," Kamara explained.

ECOWAS deals abound

Numerous ECOWAS member states have proactively signed agreements to connect underserved communities and enhance telecoms infrastructure.

In November 2024, Ghana's National Communications Authority (NCA), its Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation, and mobile network operators held talks with representatives from The Gambia to implement the ECOWAS Free Roaming Initiative.

In February 2024, Ghana signed a free roaming agreement with Côte d'Ivoire, allowing citizens of both nations to use mobile services in each other's countries without incurring international roaming charges.

A free roaming initiative between Benin and Ghana took effect on July 1, 2024, while a similar agreement involving Ghana, Togo and Benin was launched in October 2024.

In November 2023, Ghana's NCA and Togo's Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications also agreed to establish bilateral roaming services between their countries.