By: Albert Baron Ansu
Information reaching this medium shows that NATCOM is set to unveil its concisely articulated achievements; in just four years since the SLPP-led government took office. The evidence presented from the “achievement mapping and learning” exercise shows that NATCOM has clearly blazed the trail as one of the most organized, progressive, and forward-looking institutions under President Bio’s administration.
In a summary of what will soon be unveiled to the public, NATCOM management clearly set their achievements against the situation inherited in 2019. Every progress has been benchmarked against a baseline situation; to drive home the evidence. The biggest charge against the pre-2019 NATCOM administration was the fact that it was the whims and caprices of the Director General and Chairman that regulated the telecommunications sector; in the absence of laid-down Regulations. NATCOM had no Telecommunications Licensing Regulations, no Telecommunications Quality of Service Regulations, no Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulations, no Subscriber Identification and Registration Management Regulations; and no Electronic Communications Equipment Type Approval Regulations.
Pre-2019 NATCOM totally disregarded for good Corporate Governance. For instance, NATCOM had no Standard Operating Procedures; and the opinions and sentiments of the Chairman and Director General determined all administrative processes. In the 10 years up to 2019, the accounts of NATCOM were hardly properly audited. NATCOM resisted all efforts to work with the Anti-Corruption Commission to improve systems that would control corruption.
In addition to the fact that there were no Regulations, and respect for good Corporate Governance, the NATCOM that was inherited in 2019 had no capacity to enforce companies’ compliance with their obligations on spectrum use. This is because the Mobile Spectrum Monitoring equipment inherited in 2019 was not in working condition; and NATCOM didn’t have any fixed-Spectrum Monitoring equipment. Put bluntly, the NATCOM inherited in 2019 was a mere carcass.
Based on the evidence of progress presented against what the new management inherited in 2019, NATCOM’s achievements have been phenomenal. NATCOM has made massive progress in all areas. After only four years under the new management, NATCOM today has Regulations for key areas consistent with best practices under international protocols and agreements. Among the Regulations that have been developed and put to use are the Telecommunications Licensing Regulations, the Telecommunications Quality of Service Regulations, the Radio Frequency Spectrum Regulations, the Subscriber Identification and Registration Management Regulations; and the Electronic Communications Equipment Type Approval Regulations. In the area of capacity to enforce compliance with spectrum use obligations, the abandoned Mobile Spectrum Monitoring equipment inherited is now in use; and NATCOM now has fixed-Spectrum Monitoring equipment.
Since 2019, management has put emphasis on good Corporate Governance as the foundation for a sustainable, strong, respected and capable NATCOM. For instance, Standard Operating Procedures have been developed and put to use for a wide range of areas; including assets management, Corporate Social Responsibility, human capital development, payroll, and financial management; among others. NATCOM’s accounts are now regularly audited by Audit Service. Between 2021 and 2022, NATCOM voluntarily worked the Anti-Corruption Commission on corruption control systems improvement. As interventions that consumers can instantly relate with, NATCOM at the end of 2021 reduced the cost of “Mobile Termination Rate” from Le.470 to Le.200. Before the reduction, Sierra Leone had the most expensive call termination cost in West Africa.
The existence of Regulations, promotion of corporate governance, increased monitoring capacity, and reliance on Standard Operating Procedures is now yielding increased benefits for all stakeholders. For companies, these benefits include business environment stability, leading to more profitability and expansion. For Government, these benefits have included among other things, predictable stability in revenue streams. For consumers, the reduction from Le.470 to Le.200; and the setting of a “floor” and “ceiling prices”, means greater value for money. Consumers are also benefitting immensely from the expanded uses of mobile technology platforms that the ecosystem has brought. For instance, consumers are now increasingly transacting financial, education, public health, security, and other on-line services on mobile technology platforms. As the SLPP-led government prepares to mark four years in office, NATCOM’s performance is set to stand out among the achievements that will be celebrated.