Sierra Leone receives spectrum monitoring equipment

The Sierra Leonean government has handed over advanced spectrum-monitoring and quality-of-service equipment to the National Communications Authority (NatCA). This initiative is part of the Sierra Leone Digital Transformation Project (SLDTP), which is funded by the World Bank Group and implemented through the Ministry of Communication, Technology and Innovation.

The new equipment includes a mobile spectrum-monitoring system, a spectrum-management system, and tools for measuring mobile network coverage, internet speed, and call quality across 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks. The technology is designed to identify unlicensed users, detect signals on international distress and safety frequencies, and manage frequency assignments digitally.

Minister of Communication, Technology and Innovation Salima Monorma stated that the equipment will assist in identifying illegal activities, noting that the handover follows recent investigations into a suspected international cybercrime network that led to numerous arrests in Freetown and Kenema. NatCA officials emphasized that the investment will strengthen the authority’s ability to protect consumers and manage the radio frequency spectrum as a national resource.