The CIA World Factbook Every edition, 1990 to 2024 Africa
Telecommunication systems Sierra Leone, in 35 editions.
The entry for Sierra Leone published Telecommunication systems in 35 editions of 36, from 1990 to 2024. The text changed in 29 editions. Each is shown as published. Telecommunication systems in every entry.
- editions changed the text
- 29
- the first edition with it
- 1990
- the latest edition with it
- 2024
Published as “Telecommunications” (1990 to 1994), “Telephone system” (1995 to 2019) and “Telecommunication systems” (2020 to 2024).
field in that editiontext changed from the edition beforenot in that editionthe edition shownChoose an edition on the strip beside the text, or step through them with the arrows. Mark changes compares it with the edition before: the marks are ours, words added and words removed.
2024 edition
Changed since 2023The same text in 1990 and 1991.
Published as “Telecommunications”
- marginal telephone and telegraph service;
- national microwave radio relay system unserviceable at present;
- 23,650 telephones;
- stations--1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV;
- 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
marginal telephone and telegraph service; national microwave radio relay system unserviceable at present; 23,650 telephones; stations--1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Published as “Telecommunications”
- marginal telephone and telegraph service;
- national microwave system unserviceable at present;
- 23,650 telephones;
- broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV;
- 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
marginal telephone and telegraph service; national microwave radio relay system
unserviceable at present; 23,650 telephones; stations--1 broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1
FM, 1 TV; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
Published as “Telecommunications”
- marginal telephone and telegraph service;
- national microwave radio relay system unserviceable at present;
- 23,650 telephones;
- broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV;
- 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
marginal telephone and telegraph service; national microwave system radio relay
system unserviceable at present; 23,650 telephones; broadcast stations - 1
AM, 1
Published as “Telecommunications”
- marginal telephone and telegraph service;
- national microwave radio relay system unserviceable at present;
- 23,650 telephones;
- broadcast stations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV;
- 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station
marginal telephone and telegraph service; national microwave radio relay
relay system unserviceable at present; 23,650 telephones; broadcast
stations - 1
Published as “Telephone system”
- 23,650 telephones;
- telephone density - 5 telephones/1,000 persons;
- marginal telephone and telegraph service
- local:
- NA
- intercity:
- national microwave radio relay system made unserviceable by military activities
- international:
- 1 INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
23,650 telephones; telephone density - 5
telephones/1,000 persons; marginal telephone and telegraph service; service
local: NA
intercity: national microwave radioat present; 23,650 telephones; broadcast bystations - 1 AM, 1 FM, 1 TV; military activities
international: 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Published as “Telephone system”
marginal telephone and telegraph service
- domestic:
- national microwave radio relay system made unserviceable by military activities
- international:
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
23,650 telephones; telephone density - 5 marginal telephone and telegraph service
telephones/1,000 persons;local: NA domestic: national microwave radio relay system made unserviceable
intercity:by
by military activities
international: satellite earth station - 1 INTELSAT Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) earth station
Published as “Telephone system”
marginal telephone and telegraph service
- domestic:
- national microwave radio relay system made unserviceable by military activities
- international:
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
marginal telephone and telegraph service
domestic: national microwave radio relay system made unserviceable
military activities
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
marginal telephone and telegraph service
- domestic:
- national microwave radio relay system made unserviceable by military activities
- international:
- satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
marginal telephone and telegraph service
domestic: national microwave radio relay system made unserviceable by
military activities
international: satellite earth station - 1 station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
marginal telephone and telegraph service
- domestic:
- national microwave radio relay system made unserviceable by military activities
- international:
- satellite earth station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
marginal telephone and telegraph service
domestic: national microwave radio relay system made unserviceable by
by military activities
international: satellite earth station-1 station--1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
marginal telephone and telegraph service
- domestic:
- national microwave radio relay system made unserviceable by military activities
- international:
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
marginal telephone and telegraph service
domestic: national microwave radio relay system made unserviceable
international: satellite earth station--1 station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- marginal telephone and telegraph service domestic: national microwave radio relay trunk system, made unserviceable by military activities, is now operating from Freetown to Bo and Kenema (April 2001) international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: marginal telephone and telegraph servicesystem trunk system, made unserviceable by military activitiesactivities, is now operating from Freetown to Bo and Kenema (April 2001) international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- marginal telephone and telegraph service
- domestic:
- The national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema (April 2001)
- international:
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: marginal telephone and telegraph service
domestic: The national microwave radio relay trunk system, made unserviceable by military activities, is now operating from system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema (April 2001)
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- marginal telephone and telegraph service
- domestic:
- the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema
- international:
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: marginal telephone and telegraph service
domestic: The the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema (April 2001)
international: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
The same text in 3 editions, 2004 to 2006.
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- marginal telephone and telegraph service
- domestic:
- the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema
- international:
- country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: marginal telephone and telegraph service
domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema
international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- marginal telephone and telegraph service
- domestic:
- the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema
- international:
- country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2000)
general assessment: marginal telephone and telegraph service
domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema
international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2000)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- marginal telephone service
- domestic:
- the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema; mobile-cellular service is growing rapidly from a small base
- international:
- country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment: marginal telephone and telegraph service
domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema Kenema; mobile-cellular service is growing rapidly from a small base
international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2000)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- marginal telephone service
- domestic:
- the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema; mobile-cellular service is growing rapidly from a small base
- international:
- country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
general assessment:
marginal telephone service
domestic:
the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema; mobile-cellular service is growing rapidly from a small base
international:
country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
The same text in 2010 and 2011.
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- marginal telephone service with poor infrastructure
- domestic:
- the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema;
- while mobile-cellular service is growing rapidly from a small base, service area coverage remains limited
- international:
- country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
general assessment:
marginal telephone service with poor infrastructure
domestic:
the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema; while mobile-cellular service is growing rapidly from a small base base, service area coverage remains limited
international:
country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- marginal telephone service with poor infrastructure
- domestic:
- the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema;
- while mobile-cellular service is growing rapidly from a small base, service area coverage remains limited
- international:
- country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
general assessment:
marginal telephone service with poor infrastructure
domestic:
the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema; while mobile-cellular service is growing rapidly from a small base, service area coverage remains limited
international:
country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2008)
The same text in 2013 and 2014.
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- marginal telephone service with poor infrastructure
- domestic:
- the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema;
- while mobile-cellular service is growing rapidly from a small base, service area coverage remains limited
- international:
- country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
general assessment:
marginal telephone service with poor infrastructure
domestic:
the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema; while mobile-cellular service is growing rapidly from a small base, service area coverage remains limited
international:
country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- marginal telephone service with poor infrastructure
- domestic:
- the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema;
- while mobile-cellular service is growing rapidly from a small base, service area coverage remains limited
- international:
- country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009)
general assessment:
domestic:
international:
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- marginal telephone service with poor infrastructure
- domestic:
- the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema;
- while mobile-cellular service is growing rapidly from a small base, service area coverage remains limited
- international:
- country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2010)
general assessment: marginal telephone service with poor infrastructure
domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema; while mobile-cellular service is growing rapidly from a small base, service area coverage remains limited
international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2009) (2010)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- telephone service improving with the expansion of the mobile sector
- domestic:
- the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema;
- mobile-cellular service has grown rapidly from a small base, overcoming the deficiencies of the fixed-line sector
- international:
- country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2016)
general assessment: marginal telephone service improving with poor infrastructure the expansion of the mobile sector
domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema; while mobile-cellular service is growing has grown rapidly from a small base, service area coverage remains limited overcoming the deficiencies of the fixed-line sector
international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2010) (2016)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- telephone service improving with the expansion of the mobile sector (2016)
- domestic:
- the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema;
- mobile-cellular service has grown rapidly from a small base, overcoming the deficiencies of the fixed-line sector (2016)
- international:
- country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2016)
general assessment: telephone service improving with the expansion of the mobile sector (2016)
domestic: the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema; mobile-cellular service has grown rapidly from a small base, overcoming the deficiencies of the fixed-line sector (2016)
international: country code - 232; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2016)
Published as “Telephone system”
- general assessment:
- telephone service improving with the expansion of the mobile sector;
- the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema;
- mobile-cellular service has grown rapidly from a small base, overcoming the deficiencies of the fixed-line sector;
- mobile sector high penetration;
- investments in upgrades to LTE (2018)
- domestic:
- fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 102 per 100 (2018)
- international:
- country code - 232;
- landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking South Africa, over 20 western African countries and Europe;
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
general assessment: telephone service improving with the expansion of the mobile sector (2016) sector; the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema; mobile-cellular service has grown rapidly from a small base, overcoming the deficiencies of the fixed-line sector; mobile sector
domestic:(2016) high penetration; investments in upgrades to LTE (2018)
domestic: fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 102 per 100 (2018)
international: country code - 232; landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking South Africa, over 20 western African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2016) (2019)
- general assessment:
- the stability in the country has led to international investment;
- telecom regulator continues to improve the market;
- telephone service improving with the expansion of the mobile sector;
- mobile-cellular service has grown rapidly from a small base, overcoming the deficiencies of the fixed-line sector;
- mobile sector has a high penetration;
- regulator approves 27% price increase for mobile voice calls;
- LTE launched in 2018 to compete with state owned almost monopoly on fixed-line (2020)
- domestic:
- fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 86 per 100 (2019)
- international:
- country code - 232;
- landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking to South Africa, over 20 western African countries and Europe;
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
general assessment: the stability in the country has led to international investment; telecom regulator continues to improve the market; telephone service improving with the expansion of the mobile sector; the national microwave radio relay trunk system connects Freetown to Bo and Kenema; mobile-cellular service has grown rapidly from a small base, overcoming the deficiencies of the fixed-line sector; mobile sector has a high penetration; investments regulator approves 27% price increase for mobile voice calls; LTE launched in upgrades 2018 to LTE (2018) compete with state owned almost monopoly on fixed-line (2020)
domestic: fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 102 86 per 100 (2018) (2019)
international: country code - 232; landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking to South Africa, over 20 western African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications production and supply chains globally; consumer spending on telecom devices and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of the telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable and satellite - has moderated
- general assessment:
- telecom sector is recovering from the decades of war, yet still constrained by inadequate power and pervasive corruption;
- recently installed terrestrial fiber backbone infrastructure;
- telephone service improving with the rapid growth of mobile sector;
- operators increased investment to provide national coverage;
- LTE available in some parts of the country;
- construction of 600 km ECOWAS Wide Area Network completed;
- fiber link to Guinea completed;
- importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020)
- domestic:
- fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 86 per 100 (2019)
- international:
- country code - 232;
- landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking to South Africa, over 20 western African countries and Europe;
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
general assessment: the stability in the country has led to international investment; telecom regulator continues to improve sector is recovering from the market; decades of war, yet still constrained by inadequate power and pervasive corruption; recently installed terrestrial fiber backbone infrastructure; telephone service improving with the expansion rapid growth of the mobile sector; mobile-cellular service has grown rapidly from a small base, overcoming the deficiencies of the fixed-line sector; mobile sector has a high penetration; regulator approves 27% price increase for mobile voice calls; operators increased investment to provide national coverage; LTE launched available in 2018 some parts of the country; construction of 600 km ECOWAS Wide Area Network completed; fiber link to compete with state owned almost monopoly on fixed-line Guinea completed; importer of broadcasting equipment from China (2020)
domestic: fixed-line less than 1 per 100 and mobile-cellular 86 per 100 (2019)
international: country code - 232; landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking to South Africa, over 20 western African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 outbreak is negatively impacting telecommunications pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and services has also slowed due to the pandemic's effect consequent restriction on economies worldwide; overall progress towards improvements in all facets of disposable incomes; the crucial nature of telecom industry - mobile, fixed-line, broadband, submarine cable services as a tool for work and satellite - has moderated school from home became evident, and received some support from governments
- general assessment:
- the telecom sector has only gradually recovered from the destruction caused during the war years, and only since 2019 has there been an effective terrestrial fiber backbone infrastructure, while the cable link to neighboring Guinea was not completed until February 2020;
- there is considerable available capacity from the ACE submarine cable and the national fiber network, but this is used inefficiently and so the price of internet connectivity remains one of the highest in the region;
- the theft of equipment and cabling, compounded by neglect, mismanagement, and under investment, means that telcos continue to operate in difficult conditions;
- the telecom regulator has made efforts to improve the market, including the liberalization of the international gateway and regular checks on QoS;
- the regulator reduced the price floor for mobile voice calls in early 2020, though consumers objected to the MNOs withdrawing a number of cheap packages as a response;
- the mobile sector has been the main driver of overall telecom revenue (2022)
- domestic:
- fixed-line 0 per 100 and mobile-cellular just over 86 per 100 (2020)
- international:
- country code - 232;
- landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking to South Africa, over 20 western African countries and Europe;
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
general assessment: the telecom sector is recovering has only gradually recovered from the decades of war, yet still constrained by inadequate power destruction caused during the war years, and pervasive corruption; recently installed only since 2019 has there been an effective terrestrial fiber backbone infrastructure; telephone service improving with infrastructure, while the rapid growth of mobile sector; operators increased investment cable link to provide national coverage; LTE neighboring Guinea was not completed until February 2020; there is considerable available capacity from the ACE submarine cable and the national fiber network, but this is used inefficiently and so the price of internet connectivity remains one of the highest in some parts the region; the theft of equipment and cabling, compounded by neglect, mismanagement, and under investment, means that telcos continue to operate in difficult conditions; the country; construction telecom regulator has made efforts to improve the market, including the liberalization of 600 km ECOWAS Wide Area Network completed; fiber link the international gateway and regular checks on QoS; the regulator reduced the price floor for mobile voice calls in early 2020, though consumers objected to Guinea completed; importer the MNOs withdrawing a number of broadcasting equipment from China (2020) cheap packages as a response; the mobile sector has been the main driver of overall telecom revenue (2022)
domestic: fixed-line less than 1 0 per 100 and mobile-cellular just over 86 per 100 (2019) (2020)
international: country code - 232; landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking to South Africa, over 20 western African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; many network operators delayed upgrades to infrastructure; progress towards toward 5G implementation was postponed or slowed in some countries; has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services and devices was affected by large-scale job losses and has increased due to the consequent restriction on disposable incomes; surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home became is still evident, and received some support from governments the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
- general assessment:
- the telecom sector has only gradually recovered from the destruction caused during the war years, and only since 2019 has there been an effective terrestrial fiber backbone infrastructure, while the cable link to neighboring Guinea was not completed until February 2020;
- there is considerable available capacity from the ACE submarine cable and the national fiber network, but this is used inefficiently and so the price of internet connectivity remains one of the highest in the region;
- the theft of equipment and cabling, compounded by neglect, mismanagement, and under investment, means that telcos continue to operate in difficult conditions;
- the telecom regulator has made efforts to improve the market, including the liberalization of the international gateway and regular checks on QoS;
- the regulator reduced the price floor for mobile voice calls in early 2020, though consumers objected to the MNOs withdrawing a number of cheap packages as a response;
- the mobile sector has been the main driver of overall telecom revenue (2022)
- domestic:
- fixed-line less than 0 per 100 and mobile-cellular just over 98 per 100 (2021)
- international:
- country code - 232;
- landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking to South Africa, over 20 western African countries and Europe;
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
general assessment: the telecom sector has only gradually recovered from the destruction caused during the war years, and only since 2019 has there been an effective terrestrial fiber backbone infrastructure, while the cable link to neighboring Guinea was not completed until February 2020; there is considerable available capacity from the ACE submarine cable and the national fiber network, but this is used inefficiently and so the price of internet connectivity remains one of the highest in the region; the theft of equipment and cabling, compounded by neglect, mismanagement, and under investment, means that telcos continue to operate in difficult conditions; the telecom regulator has made efforts to improve the market, including the liberalization of the international gateway and regular checks on QoS; the regulator reduced the price floor for mobile voice calls in early 2020, though consumers objected to the MNOs withdrawing a number of cheap packages as a response; the mobile sector has been the main driver of overall telecom revenue (2022)
domestic: fixed-line less than 0 per 100 and mobile-cellular just over 86 98 per 100 (2020) (2021)
international: country code - 232; landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking to South Africa, over 20 western African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
note: the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a significant impact on production and supply chains globally; since 2020, some aspects of the telecom sector have experienced a downturn, particularly in mobile device production; progress toward 5G implementation has resumed, as well as upgrades to infrastructure; consumer spending on telecom services has increased due to the surge in demand for capacity and bandwidth; the crucial nature of telecom services as a tool for work and school from home is still evident, and the spike in this area has seen growth opportunities for development of new tools and increased services
- general assessment:
- the telecom sector has only gradually recovered from the destruction caused during the war years, and only since 2019 has there been an effective terrestrial fiber backbone infrastructure, while the cable link to neighboring Guinea was not completed until February 2020;
- there is considerable available capacity from the ACE submarine cable and the national fiber network, but this is used inefficiently and so the price of internet connectivity remains one of the highest in the region;
- the theft of equipment and cabling, compounded by neglect, mismanagement, and under investment, means that telecommunications companies continue to operate in difficult conditions;
- the telecom regulator has made efforts to improve the market, including the liberalization of the international gateway and regular checks on QoS;
- the regulator reduced the price floor for mobile voice calls in early 2020, though consumers objected to the MNOs withdrawing a number of cheap packages as a response;
- the mobile sector has been the main driver of overall telecom revenue (2022)
- domestic:
- fixed-line less than 0 per 100 and mobile-cellular just over 98 per 100 (2021)
- international:
- country code - 232;
- landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking to South Africa, over 20 western African countries and Europe;
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
general assessment: the telecom sector has only gradually recovered from the destruction caused during the war years, and only since 2019 has there been an effective terrestrial fiber backbone infrastructure, while the cable link to neighboring Guinea was not completed until February 2020; there is considerable available capacity from the ACE submarine cable and the national fiber network, but this is used inefficiently and so the price of internet connectivity remains one of the highest in the region; the theft of equipment and cabling, compounded by neglect, mismanagement, and under investment, means that telcos telecommunications companies continue to operate in difficult conditions; the telecom regulator has made efforts to improve the market, including the liberalization of the international gateway and regular checks on QoS; the regulator reduced the price floor for mobile voice calls in early 2020, though consumers objected to the MNOs withdrawing a number of cheap packages as a response; the mobile sector has been the main driver of overall telecom revenue (2022)
domestic: fixed-line less than 0 per 100 and mobile-cellular just over 98 per 100 (2021)
international: country code - 232; landing point for the ACE submarine cable linking to South Africa, over 20 western African countries and Europe; satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean) (2019)
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Cite this page
Central Intelligence Agency. “Sierra Leone: Telecommunication systems.” The World Factbook, 1990–2024 editions. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/sierra-leone/telecommunication-systems.