Monrovia, Liberia — The Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) is accelerating efforts to promote regional integration and affordable mobile connectivity through new free roaming agreements across West Africa. Speaking at the Economic Community of West African States Roaming Meeting in Accra, Ghana, LTA Chairman Clarence Massaquoi described free roaming as a major step toward seamless and cost-effective communication for citizens traveling within the subregion. Liberia has already implemented a free roaming arrangement with Sierra Leone, allowing subscribers to use their local SIM cards in either country without additional charges for calls, SMS, or data. Similar bilateral agreements have been signed with Côte d’Ivoire and The Gambia, with technical rollout currently in progress. Once operational, these agreements will enable users to access mobile services at domestic rates while traveling, eliminating traditional roaming surcharges. According to the LTA, the initiative aligns with ECOWAS’s broader goal of creating a unified telecommunications market across its 15 member states. The policy is expected to reduce the cost of doing business, facilitate cross-border trade, and simplify travel for millions of people in the region.

“Seamless communication is central to regional integration,” Massaquoi said. “When Liberians can travel within the region and continue using their phones without high costs, it strengthens trade, tourism, and social connections.” Under the agreements, subscribers will retain their Liberian numbers, pay local rates for calls, texts, and data, and receive incoming calls free of roaming fees. Mobile network operators in Liberia are working closely with counterparts in partner countries to finalize network integration and billing systems. Meanwhile, negotiations are ongoing to expand free roaming to additional ECOWAS countries. Full implementation of the ECOWAS roaming framework is expected to significantly lower communication costs for more than 400 million people across West Africa. The LTA is encouraging Liberians traveling to Sierra Leone to test the service and provide feedback as operators continue to refine the system. Beyond affordability, the initiative is expected to boost economic activity. By removing high roaming costs, traders, businesses, and travelers can stay connected in real time, supporting faster transactions, improved logistics, and stronger regional ties.