The telecommunications regulatory bodies of Liberia and Ghana have initiated discussions to establish a free roaming agreement between the two countries. According to the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), this initiative aims to implement a system where mobile phone users can be charged local rates while traveling in either country.
If the agreement is finalized, it will require commercial solutions from carriers to facilitate cost-effective implementation in line with ECOWAS regulations. The LTA previously issued an order in 2020 urging the country’s mobile network operators to comply with these regulations. However, progress has been slow due to various challenges, including the lack of bilateral engagements and the slow activation of the necessary systems.
ECOWAS established roaming regulations in 2017 to standardize roaming activities within its member states’ public mobile communication networks. Implementation has been hindered by several issues, such as the absence of direct links between telecom operators, high call termination rates, and instances of fraud.
Angela Cassell Bush, Acting International Gateway Systems Commissioner, acknowledged the current development and expressed Liberia’s eagerness to engage further with other ECOWAS member countries to collaborate on zero-cost roaming. This step represents a significant move towards more affordable communication for travelers in the region.
A report indicates that most subscribers calling between Liberia and Ghana rely on internet-based apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, and Telegram, which necessitate having a smartphone and a data plan. Additionally, travelers between the two countries often need to obtain a local SIM card to make calls or use data for internet calls using their original phone number.
Following ECOWAS’s regulations, many African countries have been working towards implementing free roaming. Aliyu Yusuf Aboki, Executive Secretary of the West Africa Telecommunications Regulators Assembly (WATRA), noted that 13 ECOWAS member states have amended their telecom legislation to exempt roaming surcharges.
In April 2024, Ghana and Benin agreed to implement free roaming to reduce communication costs for their citizens traveling between the two countries. In the same month, Niger and Togo announced plans to sign a partnership agreement for bilateral free roaming. Additionally, in October 2023, Benin and Togo signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enable free international mobile network roaming between them.
As Liberia and Ghana advance in their discussions, the potential agreement could mark a significant milestone in the region’s telecommunications landscape, promoting greater connectivity and economic integration among ECOWAS member states.