By Foday Moriba Conteh
In a ceremony held on Friday 11th March, 2020 at the Miatta Conference Hall in Freetown, Q-Cell, one of the fastest growing telecoms companies in Sierra Leone, has launched a new communication service known as the 4G-LTE product. Q-Cell Sierra Leone’s values and mission are revealed in its tagline ‘SALONE PRIDE’ and its slogan ‘We INNOVATE AND INPSIRE OTHERS TO FOLLOW.’
The symbolic launching of the new product was done by Ambassador Joe Blell, and demonstration of the use of the service was undertaken by Q-cell’s technical staff. The demonstration which lasted for about ten minutes provided an opportunity for the stakeholders and the public to be educated on how the new service could be used. The product ensures the highest speed in the use of internet and other communication services.
The service can now be accessed by customers in Freetown and the northern town of Lungi which hosts the country’s international airport. It is hoped that within few months, the service would be extended to other parts of the country. The newly launched product could be accessed by the use of star 335 and the hash tag.
The same charges one pays for the 3-GLite also applies for the use of the new product. In the initial period following the launch of the new product, Q-Cell customers would enjoy a discount rate. Speaking at the ceremony via audio recording, the Group Chairman for Q-Cell, Mohamed Jah, an alumnus of Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone said the service was launched to ensure speed in the use of internet. Apart from his investment in the telecoms industry, Jah also invests in several sectors of the economy especially banking and the entertainment.
Jah told the audience that the people of Sierra Leone, whose interest has always been at the heart of the company’s operations, deserve the best technology.
Since its commencement of operations in 2019, he went on, the company had the objective of building the best network within Freetown and in the provinces.
“When you look at the Q-Cell network there is no difference between Freetown and the provinces,” he said.
The Group Chairman also informed the audience that in less than two years, Q-Cell Company has spread throughout the country. He referred to the telecoms company as one to reckon with as it continues to record tremendous successes in the telecoms industry. Unlike other telecoms companies, he went on, which he said were here to maximise profits, Q-Cell Sierra Leone is here to seek the interest of Sierra Leoneans.
“We are here to give back to the country and not to make money,” Chairman Jah emphasised. He promised the people of Sierra Leone that in as much as the people are poised to have a sound network in Sierra Leone; it is also equally ambitious to have an affordable network system.
“We are determined to see the best and the fastest growing network in Sierra Leone,” the Chairman assured.
In his contribution, Chief Executive Officer for Q-Cell, Karthik Jayamani assured Sierra Leoneans that the launch of the new product marked a new dawn in the telecoms industry.
The launch, he went on, would also change the people’s way of using their smart phones. Since the telecoms company rolled out its services in January, 2019,he said, it had been offering the cheapest network services in Sierra Leone.
The company’s move, he went on, is to ensure that Q-Cell services are brought to the door steps of the ordinary man at affordable costs.
The CEO also spoke about the rapidity in how the company is spreading in the country.
“With the launching of the 4-GLte, the sky is your limit in the use of your smart phones. The aim of Q-cell is making sure that Sierra Leoneans get the highest speed in internet use at an affordable cost,” he said. With the use of the new product, he underscored, one can go to Amazon, download videos and access other services.
The aim is about building a digital economy for Sierra Leone. The CEO also intimated that it was not easy to come up with the innovation adding that the initiative was made possible because the company is here to stay and win the game. The CEO also used the launching ceremony as an opportunity to announce the new Q-Cell Code number ‘032.’
“Q-Cell will leave no stone unturned to provide the fastest network for Sierra Leoneans,” the CEO assured.
He also told the audience that the 4-GLte service was built using state of the art technology adding that the people of Sierra Leone would now have access to broadband technologies.
Deputy Director-General of the National Telecommunications Commission, Amara Brewah told the audience that President Julius Maada Bio is a tech-oriented person that wants to see digitalisation in whatever activity the country embarks on.
He also reiterated the call for the people of Sierra Leone to sign up with the new product. The donation of thousands of face masks to different Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government also formed an important part of the occasion.
Ministries of Health, Education, the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces and the Sierra Leone Police benefitted from Q-Cell’s gesture. A local artist who is widely acclaimed to have shown deep commitment to music over the years entertained the audience for close to ten minutes with melodious musical hits.
