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Monrovia, January 24, 2025: The House of Representatives has summoned the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MoPT), and the two GSM companies here to address persistent network problems affecting the southeastern region of Liberia.
The state institutions and GSM companies Lonestar Cell MTN and Orange Liberia have been summoned to appear on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.
The decision follows a joint communication submitted by Maryland County District 2 Representative Anthony Williams and District 3 Representative Austin Taylor.
The two lawmakers have highlighted the severe impact of unreliable telecommunications services on the lives of citizens and businesses in the southeast.
In the letter to the Plenary, Rep. Williams described the network issues as an urgent concern.
Williams explained how they have disrupted daily life, hindered economic activities, and caused untold hardships.
“The southeastern region has been experiencing persistent network issues that have severely impacted the daily lives of our citizens,” said Mr. Williams.
He detailed that the unreliable network has disrupted business operations, leading to financial losses for entrepreneurs and traders who rely on stable communication for transactions and coordination, including mobile money services.
The communication noted broader implications of the network failures, including reduced access to essential services and difficulties in communication for residents.
He lamented that many of the affected residents in the southeast rely heavily on mobile technology for personal and business needs.
Rep. Williams and his colleague emphasized the need for technical clarity from the LTA and the mobile network operators.
“Given the gravity of the situation, it is imperative that we seek a comprehensive understanding of the technical issues and the measures being taken to address them,” they noted.
The lawmakers are requesting that the LTA, Lonestar Cell MTN, and Orange Liberia provide detailed explanations of the technical problems.
They want the institutions to propose concrete solutions to resolve the network challenges in the southeast.
The plenary session is expected to address these concerns and seek immediate interventions to ease the burden on affected residents.
The upcoming hearing underscores growing frustrations with the performance of telecommunications providers in Liberia, particularly in underserved rural areas.
It also highlights the increasing pressure on the LTA as the regulatory body to ensure operators meet their obligations to provide reliable and equitable services.