By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
Sierra Leone's Ministry of
Communication, Technology and Innovation has handed over new spectrum
monitoring and quality of service equipment to the National Communications
Authority (NatCA) to strengthen telecommunications regulation, detect
unauthorised frequency use and improve the quality of communication services
across the country.
The equipment was handed
over at NatCA Tower, South Ridge, IMATT, through the World Bank-funded Sierra
Leone Digital Transformation Project (SLDTP).
Minister of Communication,
Technology and Innovation, Salima Bah, said the new systems would help the
authority identify suspicious activities and monitor the use of radio frequency
spectrum, particularly following recent security operations targeting a suspected
international cybercrime network.
"Just yesterday, there
was a public announcement of a suspected cyber ring. Equipment like this helps
us identify that kind of activity. It is about making sure we have our eyes and
our ears out, so that our spectrum is used for what it is meant for," she
said.
The Minister was referring
to raids announced on October 27, during which security forces working with
NatCA arrested 18 people and detained about 400 in Freetown and Kenema as part
of an investigation into a suspected international cybercrime network.
The handover ceremony
featured a keynote address by Chief Minister and Chief Innovation Officer
(CIO), Dr David Moinina Sengeh, and brought together representatives of the
World Bank Group, licensed telecommunications operators, civil society and the
media.
The equipment presented by
NatCA's Director of Engineering and Infrastructure, Ing. Sahr Momodu Sewa,
includes a mobile spectrum monitoring system, a spectrum management system,
mobile quality of service measurement equipment for drive testing, a spectrum
analyser for broadcast signal analysis and electromagnetic field measurement
equipment.
The mobile monitoring system
will enable NatCA engineers to conduct field investigations into signal
interference and the unauthorised use of radio frequencies. According to Ing.
Sewa, the system scans the airwaves to identify unlicensed users and operators
working outside their authorised frequencies.
It can also detect signals
on international distress and safety frequencies used by pilots. The spectrum
management system will support the digital handling of frequency assignments,
licensing and planning.
The investment is expected
to strengthen the authority's ability to monitor telecommunications operators
and ensure that radio frequency spectrum is used in accordance with authorised
purposes.
Speaking at the event, SLDTP
Project Coordinator Kumba Liliana Musa compared the value of spectrum to that
of the country's minerals, noting that demand for the resource continues to
grow with the arrival of 5G technology.
Chief Minister Dr Sengeh
highlighted the link between policy implementation and service delivery, saying
independent quality of service monitoring would strengthen NatCA's ability to
hold operators accountable.
He also linked the
investment to the government's commitment to radical inclusion, ensuring that
people in remote areas can also count on reliable connectivity.
NatCA Director General Amara
Brewah said the new measurement capabilities would allow the authority to
require corrective action where telecommunications networks fall short of
expected service standards.
He urged licensed operators
to continue working with the regulator, adding that the value of the investment
would depend on the consistent use of the systems to support better regulatory
decisions.
