The National Communications Authority (NatCA), has successfully delivered a landmark spectrum management and monitoring project aimed at strengthening Sierra Leone’s telecommunications regulatory framework, improving network service quality and accelerating the country’s digital transformation agenda.
The milestone was marked on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, during the official handover of Spectrum Monitoring and Quality of Service Equipment at NatCA Tower, South Ridge, IMATT, Freetown.
The project, titled: “Procurement and Supply of Spectrum Management and Monitoring Tools,” forms part of the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project (SLDTP), funded by the World Bank and implemented through the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation (MoCTI).
The ceremony attracted Chief Minister, Dr David Moinina Sengeh, who delivered the keynote address; Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation, Salima Monorma Bah; representatives of the World Bank Group; NatCA Board members; senior Government officials; telecommunications operators; civil society representatives and members of the press.
The investment represents a major advancement in Sierra Leone’s capacity to manage its radio frequency spectrum, detect unauthorized transmissions, monitor telecommunications performance and enforce regulatory compliance.
Delivering his welcome statement, NatCA Director General, Amara Brewah, described the development as a significant achievement in modernizing the Authority’s operations and strengthening its capacity to protect consumers.
He emphasized that radio frequency spectrum remains a scarce and valuable national resource supporting mobile communications, internet connectivity, broadcasting and digital financial transactions.
According to him, effective spectrum management requires accurate technical information, modern monitoring systems and the institutional capacity to enforce established regulations.
“This investment strengthens NatCA’s ability to carry out its mandate: managing spectrum, monitoring compliance, safeguarding service quality and protecting consumers, while supporting a competitive communications sector that attracts investment,” he stated.
Amara Brewah explained that the newly acquired equipment would enable the Authority to identify harmful interference, investigate unauthorized spectrum usage and independently assess telecommunications services nationwide.
He further stressed that the ultimate success of the investment would depend on its effective deployment and the measurable improvements it delivers for consumers.
“For consumers, the value of these systems must ultimately be reflected in more reliable services and faster resolution of technical problems,” he maintained.
The Director General assured licensed telecommunications operators of NatCA’s commitment to maintaining a transparent regulatory environment that encourages investment, promotes fair competition and protects legitimate spectrum assignments.
He also called for continued cooperation between the Authority and licensed operators to ensure compliance with national regulations and improved service delivery.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of four advanced technological systems designed to transform spectrum regulation and telecommunications oversight.
NatCA’s Director of Engineering and Infrastructure, Ing. Sahr Momodu Sewa, provided technical explanations of the equipment and demonstrated its operational capabilities.
The first component, the Mobile Spectrum Monitoring System, incorporates advanced TCI monitoring technology installed in a specially configured vehicle.
The system enables NatCA engineers to conduct real-time spectrum monitoring, analyse radio signals, locate interference sources and investigate suspected unauthorized frequency usage across Sierra Leone.
Ing. Sahr Momodu Sewa explained that the technology could identify operators transmitting outside their assigned frequencies and detect signals affecting international distress and safety frequencies used in aviation.
The second component, the Automated Spectrum Management System, uses the LS Telcom mySPECTRAevo platform to digitize frequency assignments, licensing, spectrum planning, engineering analysis and coordination.
The platform is expected to reduce administrative delays, improve transparency and strengthen efficiency in managing the country’s limited frequency resources.
The third component, the Mobile Quality of Service Measurement System, includes specialized drive-test equipment and Toyota Hilux 4×4 vehicles designed to independently evaluate mobile network performance.
The equipment can assess network coverage, internet speeds, voice-call quality and overall customer experience across 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks.
It can also measure the performance of widely used digital applications, including WhatsApp and YouTube, providing evidence to support regulatory intervention where services fall below acceptable standards.
The fourth component comprises portable technical instruments, including spectrum analysers, electromagnetic field measurement equipment, broadcasting signal analysers and earth ground resistance meters.
Those devices will strengthen NatCA’s ability to conduct field inspections, investigate technical complaints, monitor broadcasting activities and enforce telecommunications regulations.
Addressing the gathering, Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation, Salima Monorma Bah, linked the new monitoring capabilities to the Government’s broader efforts to strengthen digital security and telecommunications oversight.
Referring to security operations announced on 27 October 2026, involving investigations into a suspected international cybercrime network in Freetown and Kenema, the Minister highlighted the importance of having modern technical systems capable of detecting suspicious spectrum activities.
“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 stated.
The operations reportedly resulted in 18 arrests and approximately 400 people being detained as part of ongoing investigations.
The Minister also noted that the handover coincided with NatCA’s 20th anniversary year and followed the Authority’s relocation to its new headquarters.
She commended the teams involved in the project’s implementation, acknowledging approximately three years of work covering procurement, coordination and delivery.
In his keynote address, Chief Minister, Dr David Moinina Sengeh, underscored the importance of translating Government policies and technological investments into practical improvements in citizens’ lives.
He observed that independent quality-of-service monitoring would strengthen NatCA’s capacity to hold telecommunications operators accountable and ensure that consumers receive services consistent with regulatory standards.
Dr David Moinina Sengeh further connected the initiative to the Government’s commitment to radical inclusion, emphasizing the need to extend reliable telecommunications connectivity to underserved and remote communities.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that technological advancement benefits citizens irrespective of their geographical location or socioeconomic circumstances.
SLDTP Project Coordinator, Kumba Liliana Musa, also highlighted the strategic importance of radio frequency spectrum, comparing its economic value to Sierra Leone’s mineral resources.
She explained that increasing demand for connectivity, particularly with the introduction and expansion of 5G technologies, makes effective spectrum management increasingly essential.
Beyond equipment procurement, the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project has supported an institutional assessment of NatCA’s organizational structure, human resources and technical competencies.
The assessment provides a framework for strengthening staff capacity, improving operational sustainability and ensuring that the new systems remain functional beyond the project’s implementation period.
Following the official handover, Chief Minister, Dr David Moinina Sengeh, toured NatCA Tower, including the Data Centre and control room, where engineers demonstrated systems supporting spectrum surveillance, network monitoring and telecommunications data management.
The Authority expressed appreciation to the Government of Sierra Leone, the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation, the World Bank, development partners, contractors and technical personnel whose collaboration contributed to the project’s successful delivery.
For NatCA, the investment represents more than the acquisition of sophisticated equipment. It establishes a stronger foundation for evidence-based regulation, improved telecommunications accountability, consumer protection and sustainable digital development.
As Sierra Leone continues expanding its digital infrastructure, the successful delivery of the project under the leadership of Director General Amara Brewah is expected to enhance the Authority’s technical readiness to address emerging telecommunications challenges while supporting a more reliable, competitive and inclusive communications sector.
