Freetown, Sierra Leone — The government has approved a strategic partnership between state-owned telecom operator Sierratel and Africell Sierra Leone in a bid to restore the struggling institution and reposition it within the country’s competitive telecommunications market.
Announcing the decision at a weekly press briefing, Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation, Salima Monorma Bah, said Cabinet endorsed a public–private partnership framework that will see the two entities collaborate under a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) model.
The arrangement will allow Sierratel to deliver services using Africell’s existing network infrastructure, significantly reducing the heavy capital investment previously required to rebuild its own systems.
Bah explained that earlier efforts to fully privatize Sierratel collapsed after prospective investors withdrew, citing high operational costs, aging infrastructure, and entrenched structural inefficiencies. According to her, the financial burden of modernizing the company, addressing staff liabilities, and competing in a saturated market proved too steep for investors.
“We tried, but the old model did not work,” she noted, adding that repeated negotiations failed as investors reconsidered the risks involved.
Under the newly adopted MVNO approach, Sierratel will remain under government ownership while benefiting from private-sector efficiency and technical capacity. The minister described the model as a pragmatic alternative that leverages existing telecom infrastructure while preserving national assets.
She acknowledged that Sierratel continues to face major challenges, including deteriorated infrastructure, staffing constraints, and declining market share. However, she emphasized that the company still holds significant value, particularly its nationwide footprint and longstanding brand recognition.
Bah also pointed to a broader global shift away from fully state-run telecom systems, noting that many countries are embracing public–private partnerships to improve efficiency and service delivery.
“Telecommunications is not a typical government business. It requires private-sector efficiency and investment,” she said.
Government officials expect the partnership to enhance service quality, expand connectivity to underserved communities, and gradually restore Sierratel’s competitiveness in the sector.
Further technical discussions are ongoing as authorities move toward implementing the MVNO framework.
